One day as a mother was studying her Christian Science books, her daughter came into the room. They had a discussion, but not an altogether harmonious one because the mother did not say what the daughter wanted her to say. The daughter, very displeased, left, slamming the door so hard that the whole room seemed to shake. The mother looked down at the copy of Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy, lying in her lap, and read these words: "Undisturbed amid the jarring testimony of the material senses, Science, still enthroned, is unfolding to mortals the immutable, harmonious, divine Principle,—is unfolding Life and the universe, ever present and eternal." ^{Science and Health, p. 306;}

"Undisturbed amid the jarring testimony of the material senses"! This statement was so appropriate, the mother began laughing, and that broke her sense of inharmony. It melted before the realization that the material senses were not telling the truth. She saw that both she and her daughter were reflections of God. Since God is infinite, All, God's will is the only will. Therefore there could be no self-willed daughter or self-willed mother. There could be no clash of wills at all.

In the spiritual interpretation of the Lord's Prayer in Science and Health Mrs. Eddy gives the spiritual sense of the line "Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven" as "Enable us to know,— as in heaven, so on earth,—God is omnipotent, supreme." ^{ibid., p. 17;} Instead of just asking God to do His will in our experience or in community or world affairs, we can ask Him to show us that His will is unceasingly being done, because He is supreme. God's omnipotence is the only real power ruling in our affairs and in the world. Human self-will is not a power and cannot interfere with God's undeviating government when we realize He is supreme.

Isn't this a wonderful answer to discordant relationships in families, in jobs, in schools, in churches, everywhere? Frequently it seems another person is very self-willed. He isn't doing what we think he ought to do or saying what we want to hear him say. But can it be our own will that wants him to do a certain thing—our will that wants him to do it a certain way? Often when we think someone else is expressing self-will, it is really our own self-will reacting.

Self-will, like the talking serpent in the allegory of Eden, can be subtle. We need to learn to recognize it. When we are visiting friends or relatives and helping in the kitchen, do we tell them how to slice the tomatoes for the salad? Working on a committee, do we feel our way is the only way to carry out the work? These instances, though minor, illustrate self-will.

Knowing that God, Mind, reflects His intelligence in all His creation helps us see that others have the intelligence to slice tomatoes and to express useful ideas. While there may be times when we feel guided to correct another, giving up the belief that we have a private intelligence and that we need to tell others what to do is truly recognizing that God is infinite Mind and is expressing His intelligence in everyone.

Several times the Bible implies that God is All, as in this verse: "Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the Lord he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else." ^{Deut. 4:39;} Christian Science declares that God is all that really is; there is nothing else. His creation is His manifestation or expression. The fifth plank in the Platform of Christian Science conveys this thought. Mrs. Eddy writes: "The Scriptures imply that God is All-in-all. From this it follows that nothing possesses reality nor existence except the divine Mind and His ideas. The Scriptures also declare that God is Spirit. Therefore in Spirit all is harmony, and there can be no discord; all is Life, and there is no death. Everything in God's universe expresses Him." ^{Science and Health, p. 331;}

There can be no other cause if God is All. Spirit is causing its creation to be spiritual; Love is causing its creation to be pure, gentle, and peaceful. Soul is causing its creation to be harmonious. Principle is causing its creation to be orderly. Life is causing its creation to be whole and strong and joyful. Truth is causing its creation to be perfect. Mind is causing its creation to be intelligent and wise.

Every idea of Mind reflects infinite Mind and so is governed perfectly and harmoniously. When we try to control the actions of others, we are trying, though perhaps unintentionally, to usurp Mind's government. The belief that one has superior intelligence and so must impose his will on others is the reverse of the belief that one lacks the intelligence to think clearly and make decisions. Both of these beliefs are false; both of them are denials of one infinite Mind.

During the night before his crucifixion Christ Jesus prayed to be spared the experience. According to the Gospel of Matthew he prayed, "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt." And again, "O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done." ^{Matt. 26:39, 42.} He was truly willing to do God's will, and this made possible the resurrection.

Most of our experiences with self-will may involve little things. But as we detect and overcome self-will in our own daily habits, actions, and conversation, it will be easier to overcome it in the big things.

To help others overcome self-will, we must really overcome it in ourselves. We must see clearly that God is governing all His children harmoniously; and then, even if things don't work out the way we think they should, let God do the governing.

Teach me to do thy will; for thou art
my God: thy spirit is good;
lead me into the land of uprightness.

Psalms 143:10