PUPIL: I can see this BUT suppose that when you have satisfied yourself this is true some member of the family, or some friend, jabs you with a very unkind remark? What then? Are you supposed to laugh that off?

MASTER: If you really are conscious that the best Life has to give is yours, you will instantly realize at all times that you are not supposed to try to live for another. You have all you can do to keep the stream of joy flowing through your own consciousness.

When I first began my study with Troward he cautioned me every day:

"Watch your thoughts and feelings! They do take form, you know!"

And he really got that great Truth across to my consciousness.

When I went to Ruan Manor to study with him, I had been accustomed to a personal maid all of my life. I took my maid with me when I went to Troward. There was not one modern convenience where I lived in Ruan Manor; and none could be obtained thereabouts. We had been there just a month when Marie came to me in tears and told me she was heartbroken to leave me but she could not stay in that awful place any longer; she just must go back to Paris. She was too lonely, etc. Of course my first thoughts were: "If Marie goes, what shall I do? Here we are miles from anywhere, with no conveniences of any kind. What does this mean? Why should this disaster come to me now, of all times, when I really am trying to know God?"

Just when my thoughts reached that station, and were gathering momentum, Troward's warning: "watch your thoughts!" came to my mind and I stopped right there.

I began to use the will exercise he had taught me. I also used affirmations he had given me, to hold my thoughts where the Creative Power in thoughts and feelings could produce what I wanted. What I wanted most was freedom to continue with my study. I deliberately held my thoughts in the right place.

Only two days later the lady from whom I rented our rooms came to me and said she believed that Marie had been trying to tell her that she was leaving me (Marie was French and spoke no English) and that she wished she could find me another good personal maid before she went to Paris. I told the lady this was the case. She said that her daughter was coming home from London in just a few days, that her daughter had worked there for several years as a good personal maid, and that she felt sure the girl would be happy to work for me in that capacity. Marie left after teaching the other girl just how I wished things done; and the new maid was as satisfactory as the first. In this episode I had my first good lesson in knowing that I must watch my thoughts, that they do become things!