Article June 5, 1965 Issue

Establishing True Discipline

DOROTHY NORMAN DAY

To deal with children we must understand them. If we are entrusted with the care of children, questions of discipline constantly arise which call for intelligent and adequate answers. Christian Science provides rewarding solutions to such problems, and they can be of inestimable value to all who have the joy of showing children how to live constructive and happy lives.

There is a widespread belief that the children of today are undisciplined, unruly, difficult to control, and even in some cases delinquent. Christian Science counteracts this false concept by showing that man is made in the image and likeness of God, as the Scriptures declare in the first chapter of Genesis, and that whatever may be a person's human age, parentage, background, or environment, he is in reality God's perfect child, His expression. He is governed and controlled by divine Principle and directed by infinite Mind; he reflects harmony and goodness and nothing else. Mrs. Eddy writes in "Unity of Good" (p. 23), "The divine children are born of law and order, and Truth knows only such."

In consonance with this higher concept of God's children, if we encounter disorderly tendencies in the human children with whom we may be dealing, we can establish true discipline by knowing that petulance, self-will, insubordination, and disobedience cannot be a part of divine Love's perfect expression. God's harmonious child is always obedient, always orderly, peaceable, and equable. These truths, held in consciousness, do much to replace willfulness with willingness, resistance with cooperation, rebellion with conformity, and inharmony with peace.

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
True Parenthood
June 5, 1965
Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit