With the birth of our first child, I faced the difficult decision of...

With the birth of our first child, I faced the difficult decision of continuing my employment or staying home to care for our daughter. I had thoroughly enjoyed my work in data-processing management, and my first inclination was to continue with it, as I felt more confident in handling a full-time job than in coping with a full-time child. However, I also felt pulled by a new maternal sensitivity and a growing awareness of responsibility for our daughter's early upbringing.

While on a leave of absence from work I prayed daily for several weeks to know what to do. Then one day I read this passage in Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy (p. 454): "Right motives give pinions to thought, and strength and freedom to speech and action." From this I reasoned that the first step was to sort out my motives. I listed on paper my motives for staying home and for returning to work and then began to separate the good ones from those that were based on fear or selfishness. I saw that egotism, jealousy, and hidden fears about our finances needed to be eliminated, along with a condescending attitude toward being a full-time homemaker. I felt encouraged after reading the following statement in Science and Health (p. 446): "A wrong motive involves defeat. In the Science of Mind-healing, it is imperative to be honest, for victory rests on the side of immutable right." I soon saw that it was right for me to stay home. I knew that in being obedient to this guidance our whole family— including me—would be blessed.

Of the new challenges I confronted, two were particularly difficult to overcome. I welcomed our daughter's nap time, as it afforded me a period free of interruptions. However, what started as a time for study soon became my nap time too! There were days when I would close my eyes for what I thought was a few minutes only to wake up three hours later. This unnecessary sleep became a habit and not only wasted time but also dulled thinking.

Enjoy 1 free Sentinel article or audio program each month, including content from 1898 to today.

February 1, 1982
Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit