Federico prays in an earthquake

Patricia del Castillo

Federico is a kid who has always enjoyed watching cartoons. When he was a small boy, his favorite characters were the superheroes. In Sunday School he has learned that there are heroes in the Bible who did many wonderful things—but these were real people, not cartoons! Such is the case of David, the young man who defeated a giant warrior called Goliath through his faith in God (see I Sam., chap. 17).

Fede has also learned about an omnipresent and powerful God, who is only good. Omnipresent means always present. Whenever something terrible happens, such as an earthquake, bombing, flood, war, or something like that, he knows that it does not come from God, and that we can keep our thoughts filled with goodness and love, and do good and kind things, because goodness and safety are actually what's natural to us, as God's children. God is protecting us always.

Fede has been attending Sunday School since he was very small. Many people feel little kids are sometimes easily distracted and can't learn much in Sunday School. How wrong they are! Fede loves to listen to God, learn about Christ Jesus, and think about and do good.

Federico has had some healings in Christian Science. Best of all, he has enjoyed very good health thanks to this Science, which teaches him how to keep his thought and body from harm, and helps him know he has an omnipotent (all-powerful) and caring Father-Mother, God. There is an experience that stands out as a time when he knew this.

It was the day following the earthquake in Mexico City in September 1985. Fede was at home with his little sister, his parents, and a friend of the family when another earthquake began. All of them had seen horrible things on TV, showing how the first earthquake had wrecked some areas of the city. Many buildings had fallen down, and lots of people were trapped. Even some of their friends had been closely touched by it. Federico's parents had everyone kneel down under a very strong table. They lived on the fourth floor of an apartment building.

Although his parents were very frightened, Fede with a calm smile on his face began singing Hymn 30 from the Christian Science Hymnal. The words are by Mary Baker Eddy. It begins:

Brood o'er us with Thy shelt'ring wing,
'Neath which our spirits blend
Like brother birds, that soar and sing,
And on the same branch bend.
The arrow that doth wound the dove
Darts not from those who watch and love.

The words of this song were a reminder that God's children, including him and everyone, were always in God's love. His sister followed him in singing, also smiling, and then his parents began singing, too. While they were singing, his parents' fear vanished, and they kept on singing until the earth stopped shaking.

After that day Federico prevented his parents from talking about the earthquake in a scary or sad way. He told them that they should think Godlike thoughts instead.

Parent's note: When the earthquake began, I felt strong pain in my chest and realized I was frightened—the first earthquake had damaged the first floor of our apartment building! But when I heard my son singing that hymn, I felt relieved and knew everything was just fine. The friend who was with us was astonished at the reaction of the children, and said: "I really think your children have a different 'cassette' in their heads. I can't believe it! While other kids cry and wet their beds, your children sing!"

I am so grateful to the Christian Science Sunday School, where the children have an opportunity to understand that "there is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear ..." (I John 4:18).

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