IN their innermost hearts men and women of truly great character have been humble, devout, and intelligent enough to recognize their indebtedness to God, the creator of man, and their dependence upon the pure and beneficent power of Spirit, to which alone are traceable the really fine achievements of the human race. Jesus said, "Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God." Every good trait expressed by men, women, and children should be seen as originating in God, divine Principle, as impartially imparted to all, and as perpetuated by the law of perfect spiritual being. True character is not subject to deterioration, but to divine perpetuation.
As human parents recognize the fact that God alone is the author of good, they recognize that there is no occasion to preen themselves on the fine character of their children, since all that is good originates in Mind, not in matter, in Principle, not in person.
If the character of a child or of an adult appears to be full of faults— what then? The apathetic and discouraging tendency to accept one's character and disposition for better or for worse can be faced and overcome through Christian Science. How may this be done? By looking away from human ancestry to God, the one perfect Mind, and to God's inviolable reflection. Christian Science bases its scientific conclusions on the premise of God, perfect Spirit, expressed in the perfection of spiritual man. Any individual honestly standing by this premise and conclusion is enabled to rise above temptations which overcame him when he took no other view of himself than that which is presented through the five physical senses.
