As a young working parent, I sometimes had to juggle work, family responsibilities, educational goals, and a myriad of other objectives. The sense of burden I sometimes felt was lightened when I recognized that my children were really God's children. I often found that Hymn 304 from the Christian Science Hymnal was of enormous comfort. The words of the hymn are a poem by Mrs. Eddy. The title, "'Feed My Sheep,'" reminded me that I also was one of the children always under God's loving care.

The hymn begins:

I saw that all parenting qualities come from God and that no matter what difficulty I faced, I could expect a sense of spiritual direction to unfold. Facing and meeting the challenges that lie before parents, I found that no matter how steep the difficulties appear to be, the reality is that God, our Shepherd, leads the way. The hills are manageable and surmountable.

The hymn continues:

And, I added, how to instill the Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes, and the Golden Rule in children when at times it seemed impossible even to get across the concepts of "thank you" and "please."

I found that when I fed my children the spiritual truth of God as Love and Life, I was able to approach them with more patience, understanding, and lots of love. I was feeding their receptive thoughts with more of their real nature, God's spiritual expression.

Mrs. Eddy found comfort in turning to God for guidance as the hymn points out:

Listening for direction and knowing that God's answers are right at hand bring comfort on all occasions. The needed strength and direction are always with us.

According to the Bible, Christ Jesus spoke tenderly of little children and cherished them. Jesus encouraged the young to come to him; he must have loved their purity of thought and openness to God's message. He asked all to "become as little children." He said, "Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven." ^{Matt. 18:3,4.}

Jesus must also have appreciated in each child the gentle nature and willingness to grow. We too should love these childlike qualities in the individual children who are in our experience and in our care. And we need to become as little children ourselves and open our thoughts to the good that emanates from God. Our receptiveness of thought lets the radiant light of Truth minister to whatever appears to need healing in our lives and the lives of our children.

As God's children, Love's spiritual expression, we are all perfect—with a perfection full of gentleness, grace, and gladness. This perfection is not a state we strive for, but one we already have. Our job is to understand the perfection of Godlike man, our true identity, and utilize this understanding in our everyday experience. As we do, we individually radiate the power of peace and patience. We have dominion to demonstrate health and wholeness for ourselves and our loved ones.

When daily demands present themselves, we have at our disposal all the God-given qualities of joy, integrity, and intelligence to meet challenges and master them. Imperfection in any guise is a lie; it is a denial of the goodness of God's creation and can be destroyed by Truth. We need to wake from the dream of doubt and dread and understand the complete control God, divine Principle, has over all He creates. As each new opportunity arises, we can call upon a higher understanding of Principle to tackle whatever we need to. God's children reflect Truth and so are truthful, whole, at peace, and fully supplied. As we hold to the perfect image of God—the image that we really are—growing evidence of perfection will manifest itself in our experience.

When challenges arise at home—even over such things as support payments, visitation rights, or delinquency, we need to know that our children are not pawns or property. In reality they are man, the immortal idea of God, reflecting His dominion and pure nature. Seeing the true selfhood of our children as God's reflection is liberating; it allows us to rely on the full force of God's strength to free us and them from the bondage of fear, burden, and separation.

Moses, through God's power, liberated the Israelites. Jesus, our Exemplar, showed us how to demonstrate God's presence and power by liberating people from sin and by healing their diseases. We can call upon that same source for strength in whatever circumstances befall us. We can rely on the tender power of Love to heal our children and ourselves.

Concern for the larger family of mankind can call forth in us the same understanding—that all children have one Parent, namely God. Whether our human family would be called a "primary family," "blended family," "step-family," or "extended family," we are all in reality one family, loved by the same universal Father-Mother God. The contribution of each one in this family is distinct. Recognizing this spiritual fact uplifts our view and strengthens our sense of responsibility to all the children of the earth. We need to cherish each one, respect his or her rights, nurture his individual spiritual growth and well-being.

As our own children grow spiritually, they shed the limitations that are imposed by the world's view of them as helpless, stubborn, or vulnerable. Watching the unfolding of good and growth within each child is a joy. As they more clearly understand that they are God's children, they will be freer to express their Godlike individuality. Mrs. Eddy's definition of resurrection throws new light on what growth involves: "Spiritualization of thought; a new and higher idea of immortality, or spiritual existence; material belief yielding to spiritual understanding." ^{Science and Health, p. 593.} What a joy it is for us as parents to nourish this spiritualization of thought, this growth in spiritual understanding, in our youngsters.

In several places in her writings, Mrs. Eddy emphatically stresses the need to care for the young, so that they are guided with wisdom and love. Cherishing their individuality, nurturing it consistently through prayer and discipline, educating them in the things of the Spirit, and enjoying our children prepare them to make lasting contributions to our world. In one of Mrs. Eddy's addresses she exclaims, "Ah, children, you are the bulwarks of freedom, the cement of society, the hope of our race!" ^{Pulpit and Press, p. 9.}

Mrs. Eddy shows the parent how to see children in the true light by giving us a definition of children, which reads in part: "The spiritual thoughts and representatives of Life, Truth, and Love." ^{Science and Health, p. 582.} This definition helps us to see our children more clearly as God's reflection, under His perfect control and care.

When I was divorced and had responsibility for the total support of a young child, I turned to the one and only Parent, God. My daughter and I lived in very crowded conditions, sharing a small apartment with several other women. To obtain a sense of tranquillity and space, I prayed to know we were not limited by our surroundings. My daughter and I found, that as we prayed for a clearer and higher sense of peace, we were often invited to the country by various friends. Our friends often paid for our food and provided our transportation.

Our needs were met on many occasions, and our financial problems lessened as we turned from fear, lack, and frustration to God, Spirit. Looking to God for guidance released us from poverty into plenty. Expression of gratitude on a daily basis helped us to open the floodgates of good. Wave upon wave of good entered our lives as we healed our sense of limitation.

As we embrace a spiritual understanding of God and man, we clearly understand that a child is not ours but belongs to God.

This does not diminish our caring, responsibility, or concern; instead it frees us to be receptive to the answers that are constantly pouring forth from the one Parent. Prayer reveals that we truly are of one family and that each child within the nucleus of the family unit is a star in his or her own individual right. Truth prevails when a parent has the perception to allow and encourage individual spiritual expression to be called forth in each child.

Since children are actually the spiritual offspring of God, they can sense the serenity, sincerity, and security that are born of Spirit. As they gain the confidence of their inner strength and light, they demonstrate dominion in their experiences. They learn to be guided by genuine desire for spiritual good. They become a beacon to enlighten and uplift. They no longer stumble in the darkness of self-doubt but can demonstrate God's government in their lives. Just as a lighthouse stands erect upon the rocks, our children can stand fast against the pressures of their peers because they are grounded in a strong defense. The foundation of Truth will not erode or waver.

As a child learns and respects the concept of God's fathering and mothering, he understands and feels that God is eternal Life, his divine Principle, Truth and Love. Then the child knows just how loved he is. He is God's reflection. Deeds of mercy and meekness are ways for a youngster to reach humanity's hungering heart. This is how the child learns to demonstrate Truth for himself. Care and concern for others are natural when the child is secure in his or her own sense of reflecting Godlike qualities.

In Revelation we read, "He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son." ^{Rev. 21:7.} All the qualities that a child needs in order to overcome any sense of limitation are already provided by God. God loves and cares for each individual. No one is alone. As we learn to trust God to take care of His children, we will more clearly understand what we need to do for them. Our children are actually perfect in divine Love, and each day we have the opportunity to help them demonstrate more of their native spiritual understanding and wisdom.