Article April 28, 1986 Issue

Stepparenting: a spiritual perspective

ELISE L. MOORE

The challenges of being a stepparent can spur us to spiritualize the concepts of family and home. Conventional parenting techniques and other efforts to mold a harmonious family unit from fragmented parts may often be inadequate. Different life styles, habits, expectations, parental loyalties, even varying religious beliefs, can pose difficulties. Sometimes jealousy, envy, bitterness, revenge, frustrate attempts to progress beyond the past.

But if stepfamilies have one characteristic in common, it is the yearning of each member to feel the presence of a constant, unchangeable, unshakable source of love. This comes only from a spiritual approach. Its starting point is "Our Father which art in heaven" Matt. 6:9. —the dear Parent of us all. Being divine, all good, God is the perfect Parent. There is no evil or incompleteness in God. He is both patient Father and wise Mother. And God, divine Love, governs all masterfully and tenderly.

In Science and Health Mrs. Eddy gives a definition of God, which helped me see the present activity of God as the one true Parent. It reads in part: "God. The great I am; the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-acting, all-wise, all-loving, and eternal. ..." Science and Health, p. 587. What child wouldn't be thrilled to have such a wonderful Parent!

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April 28, 1986
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