In parenting, I’ve been making more of an effort to lean on God in prayer for the wisdom I need to meet daily needs. In Christian Science, we learn that one synonym for God is Mind, and “Mind” is the subject of this week’s Bible lesson from the Christian Science Quarterly. “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures” by Mary Baker Eddy explains, “God is Mind: all that Mind, God, is, or hath made, is good, and He made all” (p. 311).
Thinking about God as Mind, or infinite intelligence, helps us better understand that, rather than a distant, mortal character up in the sky, God is spiritual and ever present, and we can rely on Him in every need. Understanding that God is the one Mind of us all has helped me on numerous occasions, especially in my role as a parent.
Once when our family was traveling, it was time to put the kids to bed. Being away from home, our usual nighttime routine was a little out of sorts, but we made our best effort to stick to it. While I feel blessed every moment I get to spend with my kids, it had been a long day, and I was ready to sit down and curl up with a book.
Just then, one of our sons came downstairs to see me. I put him back to bed, but he kept coming downstairs, and I kept sending him back up to bed. After using my gentler tactics, I became a bit more firm, but he just smiled with a twinkle in his eye as if it was one big joke. It seemed to become a battle of wills.
I went up to bed with him and gave him some of the attention he was seeking, so he could feel settled in this less familiar bedroom. But I was starting to feel frustrated that I hadn’t had any time to myself, and soon I would need to get to bed, then wake up early the following morning.
I didn’t want to be frustrated, so I turned to God in prayer. The thought came to me to tell my son we were both going to be quiet and listen to what God had to say to us. In my prayer, I began to get more of a glimpse of my son as a spiritual idea of God, Mind. This helped me see him not as a two-year-old with his own agenda, but as God’s complete idea with the natural ability to express wisdom, understanding, and obedience.
After some silence, I asked my son what God had told him. He said, “Mommy, God said I could play with my toys tomorrow and that I need to listen and stay in my bed. I won’t come out again, and I love you.” I was moved. The two of us had come to an agreement simply by being quiet and listening to the divine Mind. Because Mind’s wisdom was speaking to both of us, my son was able to be properly self-governed, and I gained a little more understanding that he was excited about playing with his toys.
There’s only one God, so there can only be one Mind, and therefore, there can’t be two minds conflicting with one another. I saw that rather than this instance being a game of mom versus child, it was mom and child both being parented by God – and God’s wisdom won.
Science and Health says, “Willingness to become as a little child and to leave the old for the new, renders thought receptive of the advanced idea” (pp. 323-324). Becoming as a little child involves having the meekness and humility to listen to God as our common Parent. Then we, our children, and all can be led together to Him.
God, Mind, is ever available for parent and child, providing wisdom and shepherding both gently along the way. Also included in this week’s lesson is this passage from the Bible: “And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children” (Isaiah 54:13). Daily experiences teach us that we can lean on God in any conflict, in our parenting and beyond. Because God is Mind, we each reflect the wisdom we need to meet every occasion – big or small.
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