In bringing up children, parents often place great stress on food, sleep, exercise, and scholastic achievement. Certainly, from the human standpoint, nourishment of the physical body, adequate rest, wholesome activity, and progress in school are normal requirements for the welfare of a growing child. However, if he is to have the life of abundant good promised in the Scriptures, he must be helped to temper such considerations with the understanding and utilization of spiritual truths.

There is a report given in the Bible regarding the development of the boy Jesus. "And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him." ^{Luke 2 : 40 ;} This brief but profound statement is far from indicating concern over diet, exercise, and retardation or acceleration in school.

What enabled Jesus to wax "strong in spirit"? His thinking, as a boy, was not limited by a wrong sense of God as some superior physical being seated upon a throne in some vague distant place. The Bible substantiates that he knew God as ever-present, incorporeal divine Love, infinite Spirit, embracing all being. His thought held fast to the dominion of Christ, the divine idea of sonship. He was constantly aware of his true identity as an individual spiritual expression of God, forever coexistent with the Father and forever expressing only Godlike qualities.

The growth of Jesus from child to man was not alone the physical development apparent to human sense; it was spiritual unfoldment. This fitted him to perform his earthly mission, which was to prove by demonstration that all men are sons of the one God, that the true selfhood of everyone is wholly spiritual, reflecting individually the divine nature. In fulfilling his mission Christ Jesus denied all beliefs of life, substance, and intelligence in matter and all ills accompanying such beliefs. His teachings and healing works were based on spiritual law and evidenced the power of God to meet human needs. Mrs. Eddy makes this statement: "The entire education of children should be such as to form habits of obedience to the moral and spiritual law, with which the child can meet and master the belief in so-called physical laws, a belief which breeds disease." ^{Science and Health, p. 62;}

Promoting a child's obedience to spiritual law is not accomplished by that severe domination which engenders fear. Nor is the routine repetition of an evening prayer necessarily sufficient, for it may become devoid of inspiration. Formal religious training is of limited value if confined to mere memorization of Bible verses instead of guidance in daily utilization of the spiritual truths they contain.

The child's habits of obedience to spiritual law are best cultivated when satisfactory evidence in his own experience brings a growing conviction of the beneficial effect of a living God who meets human needs. Early lessons in Christian Science based on the moral law as revealed to Moses and in the teachings of Jesus open the thought of the child to God as a loving Father. They also unfold a true idea of man as God's expression.

Referring to the Master's spiritual discernment of the true identity of man, Mrs. Eddy says, "In this perfect man the Saviour saw God's own likeness, and this correct view of man healed the sick." ^p.477; Through study of the true story of creation as given in the first chapter of Genesis, a child turns his thought toward the correct view of himself and others as wholly spiritual. In this account man is declared to be made in the image and likeness of God. The chapter concludes by stating, "And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good." ^{Gen. 1:31;} This eternal goodness contains no mortal, material concepts.

But how do we go about correcting a child's thinking regarding the physical body, a body that seems to be vulnerable to things that are not good, such as injury and sickness? The sixth and seventh verses in the second chapter of Genesis speak of a mist, a clouded thought harboring the misconception that God put the breath of life into the dust of the earth and so created a material man. Mrs. Eddy speaks of this misty stupor of a counterfeit creation as the Adam-dream, in which sickness and injury seem to be real. In the proportion that the truth of being governs consciousness the distressing suggestions that lurk in the mist are dispelled and healing takes place. As belief in material ism wanes, one waxes strong in Spirit.

The spiritual sense of the Bible stories, in which God met the need of the righteous, is elucidated through the study of Christian Science. For example, a child enjoys the story of Noah and his ark. In the Glossary of Science and Health Mrs. Eddy includes in the spiritual definition of "ark" the term "safety." ^{Science and Health, p. 581.} This takes on significance as a child is guided in understanding that he too is embraced in the same divine Love that kept those in the ark safe from the flood of false material beliefs that oppose the all-power of Spirit, God. Accepting and utilizing this spiritual fact, a child reflects the intelligence, calmness, and alertness of divine Mind. These qualities of thought assure safety in normal activities, such as crossing busy streets, riding a bicycle, engaging in sports or in wholesome fun.

To be filled with wisdom ' entails far more than academic achievement and intellectual expansion. Secular education provides an awareness of what is going on m the world; spiritual enlightenment promotes an understanding of how to live in the world in accord with God's law. This understanding develops attitudes governed by divine Love. These serve as an armor against the temptation to ridicule others, to laugh at their failures, to make unkind remarks to them or about them. How blessed is the child who is spiritually nourished instead of being goaded with finite opinions that foster hateful prejudices, which, if not overcome, will serve to rob him of his own peace of mind throughout his adult years!

A parent rejoices in the first step an infant takes. Just so, the early footsteps of thought that rise above the illusions of material beliefs to the substance of spiritual ideas are important. Spiritual progress brings a harmonious balance to human experience. Reason and moderation are brought to bear upon the nourishment of the physical body. Rest is found not only in sleep but in quiet meditation on spiritual truths. Wholesome activity is God-protected. Desirable learning is free from the shadow of limited ability or a false sense of personal superiority.

No greater joy can come to a parent than to watch the growth of a child and know "the grace of God [is] upon him." No greater blessing can touch the child, for this grace includes his understanding of God and his relation to Him, an understanding of the effect of God in his daily life.