Article June 15, 1974 Issue

SPIRITUALIZING THOUGHT

by understanding God as Father-Mother

MARIA J. TURNOCK

Most of us can recall when the love of a parent has saved the day. One may remember an incident when he did the right thing because his father expected it. Another may recall how family misunderstandings were cleared up through the patient persistence of his mother, who saw (and spoke of) only the good in each member.

Still another may know of someone who, after a bad start in life, finally turned out all right because a friend—not necessarily a mother or father, but one who expressed the qualities of parental love—continued to care, to encourage, to forgive, and thereby helped him develop conscious worth and self-esteem. This friend's awareness of the rights of others and respect for their aspirations, as well as his recognitions of the need for the wise curbing of impulses and self-indulgence, helped provide the mental climate for spiritual growth and the development of judgment, wisdom, and responsibility.

Are not these qualities of fatherhood and motherhood (and these are but a few) valuable not only in the home but also in church, business, school, government? They are valuable because they heal. It is as simple as that. And they are healing qualities because they stem from God, the one Supreme Being, the loving, caring Father and Mother of the universe, including man.

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