How Love Helped Margy at the Piano

[Of Special Interest to Children]

MINNA BONNER HOFFMANN

Margy was sitting at the piano practicing her music, but she was not happy about her work. Nothing seemed to come out right. She began first to attack the keys with force, then to dawdle. Meanwhile, she was listening to untrue thoughts and believing that they were her own.

So when Grandmother came into the room, Margy repeated these thoughts: "I don't want to practice. This piece is too hard. Besides, I can't do the singing part of my lesson because my throat hurts."

"Who is this strange 'I,' " asked Grandmother, "the 'I' that says, 'I don't want!' or, 'I can't!' or, 'I have pain!'? Is it God, divine Love, speaking?" Then Grandmother began to talk about Moses, who listened so faithfully to the voice of God that he became God's messenger. She spoke of how he was told to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt, away from bondage.

God said to Moses, "Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you" (Ex. 3:14). I AM is another name for God. Mrs. Eddy tells us more of Him on page 587 of Science and Health. There she speaks of God as "the great I am; the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-acting, all-wise, all-loving, and eternal."

Margy had learned in the Christian Science Sunday School that God made man in His image and likeness; so she knew that her true selfhood must be the likeness of "the great I am." She saw that "the great I am" is all-knowing and all-loving, therefore she could know only what Love creates, and His creation is good. She could reflect only what Love says. She was sure that because the I AM is all-acting, she could do all things easily and well.

It pleased Margy to feel that the all-wise God was really present and that His angels were guiding her in performing and in finishing her tasks, just as they had guided Jesus. Grandmother quoted these words of the Way-shower (John 5:19): "The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise." In listening to and obeying the voice of "the great I am," Margy would be too busy to hear any false directions.

The children of Israel followed Moses because they knew that he was the messenger of "the great I AM." However, when they reached the Red Sea and saw the water which they had to cross, they were afraid. They must have listened to a strange voice that said: "We can't!" or, "We won't!" or, "It is too hard!"

But Moses said to the people (Ex. 14:13), "Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day." The people followed God's command to go forward. The waters were parted, and they passed through on dry land, safely on their way to the Promised Land.

Our Leader writes in Science and Health (p. 392), "Stand porter at the door of thought." As good porters we must ask every word knocking at our thinking, "Did 'the great I am' send you?" In that way no unhappiness, impatience, or sickness can enter.

Grandmother and Margy decided that the angel thoughts which "the great I am" was sending to help her with her music were love, gentleness, patience, joy, and gratitude.

Then Grandmother asked Margy, "Do you sing with a throat or with love and joy and thankfulness?"

The answer shone in Margy 's eyes as she exclaimed, "Oh! I have forgotten all about that throat, and now the hurt is all gone!"

She thanked God for her healing and went back happily to the piano. Should any "I can'ts" come knocking, she would be ready with a firm answer! The practicing went easily and sounded so good that Margy knew that God's angel messages of love and joy were helping her.

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