Article December 15, 1945 Issue

Family Relationships

ANNE R. ADAMS

Family relationships, if not based upon unselfed love, often present serious problems. Discords would not arise within family circles if individuals understood the divine relationship which exists between God and His children. Too often, the close association between members of a family results in the feeling that one has a certain ownership of another's thoughts and actions. Domination and human outlining for another are enemies to right endeavor and must be recognized and seen through in all their disguises. Everyone must be free to express God, good. It is essential, then, to understand that God holds His universe of spiritual ideas in their proper relationship to each other, and that they live and move in loving obedience to Him. The human thought cannot discern true guidance until it is enlightened by spiritual understanding; therefore it is the part of wisdom to leave the government of family relationships to the all-embracing love of God.

To assure peace and safety in human affairs, everyone must be free to act according to his highest sense of right. Willful dictating and human planning frequently keep one from recognizing divine guidance. In the textbook of Christian Science, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, writes (p. 295): "God creates and governs the universe, including man. The universe is filled with spiritual ideas, which He evolves, and they are obedient to the Mind that makes them." When one understands the government of ideas according to God's plan, he must necessarily be a law unto himself through divine direction.

How often one is prone to feel that his father or his mother, wife, friend, or brother is responsible for what he calls a bad disposition or for his lack of spiritual growth! He may at times feel bound by so-called family obligations to swerve from his course of duty and lament that he has been deprived of progress. He may even say, "If things were different at home, I could be a better Christian Scientist!" Regardless of how convincing these arguments of mortal mind may sound, it is being proved continually in Christian Science that the solution of what would seem very serious family problems lies in the proper understanding of God and of man's divine relationship to Him.

Enjoy 1 free Sentinel article or audio program each month, including content from 1898 to today.

Send a comment to the editors
NEXT IN THIS ISSUE
Article
Man Changeless
December 15, 1945
Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit