I wish to express my deepest gratitude for our dear Leader's loving wisdom in providing the Lesson-Sermons for our daily help and guidance. I had occasion to be especially grateful for this wise provision in an experience which came to me not long ago. I had been busy all the morning with household duties, and had not studied the Lesson-Sermon. When lunch was over, the temptation came to keep on with the many tasks which it seemed necessary to do; but almost immediately came a voice from within which said, No, be obedient, and first take the spiritual refreshment which is provided for you. I went upstairs and opened my books.
The story of the prodigal son came in that week's lesson; and as I studied that story, its spiritual significance unfolded to me as it had never done before, although I had always thought it very beautiful. I finally came to these words: "Son, thou art ever with me,and all that I have is thine." What a wonderful promise that was in the light of Christian Science! As I sat pondering this beautiful revelation of man's unity with the Father, my little boy, who had been asleep in the next room, and who had been suffering from a slight cold, awoke screaming. I went into his room; and he did, indeed, seem to be in great distress. His face was purple, and all he could do was to scream and talk very incoherently. If I had not just studied the lesson, I know I should, at first, have been overcome by fear at this alarming spectacle; but, instead, the beautiful words just referred to, "Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine," came to me like a flash, and I realized, as never before, that the child was really God's beloved son, that all of God's attributes were his by reflection, and that only what belonged to God had any real presence or power. It was only error that was screaming, and error could only destroy itself.
I found myself taking the little boy in my arms and without the slightest doubt or fear voicing these truths aloud. At first, the screaming became louder. I carried him into the next room and held him in my lap as I read the last section of the lesson aloud. Then, although he was still screaming, I laid him on the bed and left him with God, and went about some duties in the next room with perfect joy and confidence. In a few minutes the screaming turned into singing, and then all was still; and when I looked in a little later, he was sleeping peacefully. The flush was entirely gone; his little face was cool, and his breathing was normal. He slept this way for two hours, and then went to bed harmoniously after his usual supper.
