Choosing Sides

[Written Especially for Children]

HELEN DREGGE TRIPP

David wanted very much to tell his new little friend all about Christian Science, but he remembered that his mother had told him not to talk about it to those not ready to listen.

He talked this over with her that night, however, and they decided that the best way to show his friends what Christian Science really is, would be to express Love in his play. So he and his little sister resolved that they would watch their thoughts and make sure that error did not put temptation in their way, cause unpleasant arguments, and so stop their good times.

The next day, David's mother saw the children playing in the back yard with swords which they had made from branches of trees. They were playing war! She called David and his sister Mary into the house and asked them why they had chosen to play war when Christian Science had taught them to love, and they were trying to practice it. David said, "But, mother, Bobby wouldn't play with me unless I played war, and I want to play with him." Mother thought this over quietly for a few minutes and then said, "David, if you had to choose sides for a game, whom would you decide to choose if you were the captain?" David answered at once, 'Why the strongest and fastest one, of course." "Why?" asked mother. "Because he would help us win the game," said David.

Then mother went on to explain that we must choose between right and wrong in everything we do, and we must always choose the good because it will help us to lead a happy and useful life. She told David and Mary that as they grew older they would many times have to choose between the good and the bad. They would see other young people doing things which they would not want to do because they, as Christian Scientists, had been taught to love good only. If they started now to reject error when it presented itself to them, it would always be easier for them to choose the good.

They had just learned the fourth beatitude in Sunday school, and they had learned that when Jesus said, "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled," he meant that those who seek and choose good instead of evil will be blessed. And David and Mary knew that if they were blessed, it meant they would find happiness.

"But, mother," said David, "I don't want Bobby to think I can't play war. He'll think it is no fun to play with me, and he won't like me."

They talked further, and David suddenly saw that the reason he had played war with Bobby was that he had been afraid of what Bobby might think of him if he refused to play this game. Mother showed him that if he took his stand for the right, he could not lose his friends, because friendship is a quality of God, and so are respect and love for good His qualities. The friends he really wanted were those who loved good as much as he did. "You've wanted to tell Bobby about Christian Science," said mother. "Now here is your chance to show him what it is. I'm sure that if you explain to him that you don't want to play war because it is playing at destruction and wrong instead of love and peace, he will understand and really like you much better for it. But you must make the choice yourself, otherwise you will not really be seeking good."

With these words, mother left David to think about what they had said, and soon she looked out of the window and saw David, Mary, and Bobby talking very earnestly together. Finally Bobby gave an emphatic nod. Then she saw they were happily starting to play some other game for which they would need the qualities of courage, kindness, consideration, and good sportsmanship, which they were striving to express.

With what gratitude did mother recognize the wisdom and understanding which inspired our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, when she wrote on page 236 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures": "Jesus loved little children because of their freedom from wrong and their receptiveness of right. While age is halting between two opinions or battling with false beliefs, youth makes easy and rapid strides towards Truth"!

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit