Article April 29, 1991 Issue

"My mother had given me up"

Because my mother was an alcoholic and never able to care for me, I was raised by my grandmother. Growing up was a confusing time. I never could understand why my mother had given me up, nor did I fully appreciate that I was in a much better home with my grandmother. I felt like a burden and unwanted, and missed having a "perfect" family, which I was convinced everyone else had. What I most ached for was a mother; someone to guide and comfort me.

Still, while growing up I had the opportunity to attend a Sunday School in a Church of Christ, Scientist. There I learned that Christ Jesus had repeatedly referred to God as "my Father." But he also spoke of God to his followers and the multitudes as "your Father" and "our Father." The Lord's Prayer, for instance, begins, "Our Father which art in heaven ...." I found that I could think of God as Father more and more.

I also began to discover in Sunday School the wonderful idea of God as "Mother" as well as Father. In Science and Health Mrs. Eddy gives her spiritual sense of the Lord's Prayer. The first line of this interpretation is "Our Father-Mother God, all-harmonious." I found other places where Mrs. Eddy refers to God as Mother also. I especially liked "Love, the divine Principle, is the Father and Mother of the universe, including man."

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

"My mother had given me up"

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access