Dear Sentinel,

I was praying with a Christian Science practitioner because there was a situation at school that frightened me. I was physically sick, and I was missing a lot of school.

The practitioner gave me some ideas to think about. One of them was from an article in Miscellaneous Writings: "... we should go forth into life ... determined not to be offended when no wrong is meant, nor even when it is, unless the offense be against God" (p.224).

The twenty-third Psalm also helped me. I especially liked the part that says, "He leadeth me beside the still waters" (verse 2). Did you know that sheep prefer to drink where the water is still? What this meant to me was that God would never give me more than I could handle, and He gives me strength to do what I need to do.

After I prayed with these ideas, the sick feeling left, and I felt ready to go back to school. I knew it was my right place. After a few minutes of being in the classroom and facing the situation, I wasn't afraid. My fear was all gone and I was healed! I was very grateful, and I've learned I can depend on God in any situation.

While I was working with the practitioner, I decided to write down in my own words what a practitioner is in order to help myself understand what a practitioner does.

A Christian Science practitioner is a person who helps you get healed, who helps you see the truth about yourself, God, or someone else. A practitioner prays with you and helps you see yourself as the perfect child of God that you are—not as sick, helpless, afraid, unkind, mad, or sad, but as perfect, glad, loving, happy, joyous, fine, good, great, and spiritual.

Katie Palmer
Norman, Oklahoma

Dear Sentinel,

I had to memorize and say a paragraph in Spanish in front of my Spanish class. I was really nervous because I didn't like talking in front of people. I was sure I would forget some words and pronounce everything wrong.

While I was in class that day, I became so scared I could hardly think straight. Then I started praying. The story of God telling Moses that He would be with Moses' mouth and teach him what to say came to me (see Ex. 4:10—12). If God was there for Moses, He would also be there for me. I knew that I could trust God because I knew He cared for me and would not let me go up and make a fool of myself. "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding" (Prov. 3:5).

I became very calm then, and knew that I reflected God. Since God is the one Mind and knows all, I would not be using a separate, unpredictable mind that could make mistakes.

When I went up to the front of the class, I was very relaxed and not worried about how well I would do. I just opened my mouth and talked, trusting God the whole time. I did wonderfully and received a high mark for my work.

Rebecca Holzworth Framingham, Massachusetts

Dear Sentinel,

One day my brother Andrew and I missed the bus home. We didn't know we were supposed to ride it. Andrew started to cry. I wasn't frightened, because I knew God would take care of us. I knew that God didn't know fear, so I didn't need to be afraid. I prayed to Him and He told me what to do. And I obeyed.

I went into the school office and called Mom. She was still home. She said she would pick us up after she picked up my sister at the bus stop. Then my sister's teacher asked us why we were there. When I told her, she invited us into her classroom. We stayed for half an hour. Andrew stopped crying when we got into the classroom.

A few minutes later Mom came. I told her what happened, and she was proud of me. I learned that God answers us whenever we ask questions, wherever we are. God takes care of you, and listening to Him always helps, no matter who or where you are!

Sarah Bergquist
Huntsville, Alabama

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