TEST-TIME

BY LONIE FONSECA BY SARAH BENJAMIN

I have attended Sunday School since I was a small child, and what I've learned has helped me a lot in confronting difficulties that come up in my daily life.

About five years ago, when I was helping my aunt make pancakes, I carelessly picked up the pancake iron in the wrong place and burned five fingers. I started to cry, and ran home and told my mom what had happened. My hand was red and stung a lot, so I thought it would be a good idea to plunge it into water. But I didn't feel the relief I expected. I got very worried because school finals were starting that week.

My mother immediately remembered a testimony that had been published in The Herald of Christian Science. It talked about how a plastic flower is captivating and real-looking, but actually is a counterfeit and has no sensation at all. The plastic flower was compared with sickness. So I saw how, in spite of the shocking evidence of a burn. I could still hold firmly to the understanding of my spiritual nature, which, as the reflection of divine Spirit, could not feel a burning sensation or be damaged. I acknowledged that there was no pain in Spirit and that all was perfect in Spirit's control. I affirmed this spiritual truth and concentrated only on God and on the perfection of His creation. I also understood that nothing could prevent Mind from expressing itself during the finals.