Article December 13, 2021 Issue

My mom’s childlike trust in God’s goodness and her openness to what was possible jostled me out of feeling so defeated.

A childlike outlook that can’t be crushed

Mandy-kay Johnson

In an address published in her Miscellaneous Writings 1883–1896, Mary Baker Eddy writes, “Beloved children, the world has need of you,—and more as children than as men and women: it needs your innocence, unselfishness, faithful affection, uncontaminated lives” (p. 110).

The importance of childlikeness in the study and practice of Christian Science has been on my mind a lot lately. Children are receptive to spirituality, and their innocence and unselfishness are powerful and inspiring.

As I was exploring this concept in Mrs. Eddy’s writings, a few quotes stood out to me. Here’s one from Message to The Mother Church for 1900: “A child can measurably understand Christian Science, for, through his simple faith and purity, he takes in its spiritual sense that puzzles the man. The child not only accepts Christian Science more readily than the adult, but he practises it” (p. 6).

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