Poem May 27, 1996 Issue

Freeing child and parent

(Matthew 23:9)

Sharon Slaton Howell

"Call no man your father upon the earth,"
our blessed Master said.
How cold, you say?
Unfeeling, less than kind?

Not at all.
Rather, truly Christian,
Scientifically spiritual, liberating,
is this vital step—
for parents and for children.

What was Jesus calling for here—an attack on filial devotion?
Farthest thing from it! It was the ejection
of a third party from
the holy Father/child relation.

For neither we
nor father and mother
have ever been anyone's child
but God's,
forever of His parenting.
Knowing eternal truth about one another—
that they and we
are ever perfect, complete, and free—
begets spiritual light, understanding.

New compassion heals
old mental pictures,
resentments, regrets,
false conception,
misunderstanding.

To see the Christ-loving-logic
of God's command
brings about something more:
heavenly affection, spiritual demonstration—
father and mother honored,
loved as never before;
loved as Jesus loved
all the Father's children.

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