Article February 6, 1971 Issue

God: The Only Parent

RUTH S. HAMMERSTROM

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth."^{III John 1:4;} These beautiful words from III John find an immediate response in the heart of dedicated parents. It is their earnest desire to fulfill the responsibility of caring for their children and training them so that they will indeed "walk in truth." How necessary, then, for parents to trust their children wholly to the care of God, Love, who is the only Father-Mother and the only power!

The care and training of children naturally begin in the home. However, here is often where the challenge is great, because the ties of the flesh claim to be strong, sometimes obscuring the scientific fact of individuals' true, spiritual relationship to God and to each other. It is helpful for the parent to recall Christ Jesus' words, "Call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven."^{Matt. 23:9;} And Mrs. Eddy, speaking of God as our Father-Mother, writes, "He is man's only real relative on earth and in heaven."^{Miscellaneous Writings, p. 151.}

Parents who understand that God is the only creator can provide a home that is serene and happy, one in which fear and domination have been replaced by trust in God and selfish affection has given way to a love reflecting divine Love. These parents see themselves as trustees with sacred obligations but without the bonds of ownership. Such parents can provide an atmosphere of greater freedom for their children, enabling them to grow into adulthood confident of their perfect, spiritual sonship with God and of His care of them at all times.

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