Just as the boys in the armed forces are encouraged by news of a victory on another battle front, so are we heartened by news of a victory on any one of the myriad battle fronts faced by mankind in its warfare with error. When my son was inducted into the Army, an experience of his that occurred years ago came to my thought so frequently, with its beautiful assurance of the saving power of Truth, that I have a strong desire to share it.
About twenty-seven years ago, when he was a wee toddler between the creeping and the walking stage, he managed to climb up and over the side of a wash boiler, partially filled with a very strong soapy solution that was being used for the more strenuous tasks of housecleaning. How long he had been in this water I do not know, but when I found him he was lying face downward in it. My first reaction as I lifted him out was, "How glad I am that I know about Christian Science!" I called the woman who was helping me with the cleaning to come and hold the child while I telephoned for help. She was aghast when she saw him, thinking that he was gone. Knowing that fear must not enter, I rebuked her quite firmly, saying: "Don't be afraid. Christian Science will take care of my son." Later on I asked her what she had thought when I spoke in such an unusually stern manner to her. She replied that it made her feel that everything would be all right, and that I knew what I was talking about.
After I had telephoned the practitioner I took the little one upstairs to replace his wet garments with dry clothing. He did not seem to be breathing. These thoughts came to me: Spirit—from the Latin meaning to breathe—God, Spirit, omnipresent; Spirit, breath of life, everywhere, right here and now. Clinging to these truths I changed his clothing, and noticed that after a few gasps regular rhythmic breathing was apparent. Within twenty minutes from the time I called the practitioner, he was scrambling out of my lap to continue his play.
