Article August 15, 1983 Issue

Parenthood

ARLINE WALKER EVANS

Since most parents deeply desire to give their children all the nurturing, caring, advantages, protection they possibly can—even aspiring to be an ideal mother or father—why do many children complain about how badly a parent has failed them? Why do parents bitterly cry, "Oh, where did I go wrong?" when one offspring fails to live up to their expectations?

Child psychologists and experienced educators do not always agree on what determines the behavior and success of a child. While some emphasize environment as the determining factor, others feel heredity is the basic influence. But where can parents find the direction they need for one of the most influential jobs there is—being a parent?

Students of Christian Science find guidance in the teachings and example of Christ Jesus, and also in the writings of Mrs. Eddy, which affirm the relationship of each of God's children to the one creator. They acknowledge that the environment of God's child must be good, the good God has created. God's ideas associate only with God's ideas, in His divinely governed universe. Furthermore, neither material genes nor molecules can be found in a spiritual idea, for there is not a single element of matter in man, the manifestation of Spirit. When the lies of mortality are consistently refuted with spiritual facts, a measure of regeneration, rebirth, restitution, and rejoicing is brought to the human situation.

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