Beth's Bike Ride

Dorothea T. Leamy

Nine-year-old Beth was just learning to ride her new two-wheeled bike. Her mother and sister would hold on to the back of it until she could get the feeling of balance, then let her go a few yards. This went on for several days, but at last she was getting the hang of it. She wanted to ride all by herself. And she did! Twice she rode a good distance. What a happy feeling, to ride all alone! She went around one more time alone while her sister and mother stopped to talk with a friend.

Suddenly they heard a scream. Beth had let her feet fly off the pedals when she should have been braking. She flew over the bike and hit the stone wall hard.

Right away, Beth's sister and mother were at her side and told her that she was God's child and always in His care. Then, when they helped her to the house, they saw a deep cut on her head. But they knew that God heals, so they called a Christian Science practitioner to help them through prayer.

The practitioner asked them to say the Lord's Prayer and to go over each line carefully. They did, and their fears were calmed. While the practitioner was praying for Beth, the family learned to love even more that prayer Christ Jesus gave us. Especially this line: "Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."^{Matt. 6:10;}

Then Beth began to feel really wrapped in God's love. When it was hard to shut out thoughts of fear or pain, she remembered Mrs. Eddy's spiritual interpretation of that same line: "Enable us to know,—as in heaven, so on earth,—God is omnipotent, supreme"^{Science and Health, p. 17,}

Beth had learned that "omnipotent" means "all-powerful." So divine Love is the only power. Only Love can do anything. She knew she could trust God, and let His will be done. She knew that God's will for us is always health and freedom, joy and happiness. All at once she felt that the joy of heaven was right at hand. Harmony is all there is.

The bleeding stopped. The wound healed perfectly. And soon Beth was out on the bike again. It was such fun. She could ride without help, and how she loved it!

The Lord's Prayer became her own prayer and she used it over and over and over. Make it your prayer, because Christ Jesus gave it to all of us.

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