Some of my best friends are men

"I had to learn to love men enough to genuinely want to see them happy and well."

By Barbara Beth Whitewater

By the time I was in my early thirties, a number of unpleasant experiences left me feeling fearful of men. Most of my friends at that time felt the same way. One day, one of them was voicing her hatred for men in front of my son, who was about eight years old. I asked her to stop, because I didn't want him to feel bad about being male. Later that evening while reflecting on the day's events, I realized I needed to be healed of this painful prejudice, not just for my child's sake but for mine as well.

I was a relatively new student of Christian Science and had learned to turn to God for healing. But I felt overwhelmed by haunting memories of abuse and desertion. A friend I had spoken with recommended that I learn the true meaning of forgiveness, which is based upon accepting that, in reality, man is eternally the perfect and innocent child of God. I initially thought she was nuts. But my desire for healing kept me on the road to recovery.

One of the most important points I had to come to trust was that my unhappy past did not have to be my future. Christian Science corrects the kind of thinking that hinders hope of healing and progress. God shows in tangible ways that we are always His beloved and blessed children. Divine Love is impartial, ever present, and unlimited. This Love frees us from vulnerability, however chronic it may seem. God's love opens our eyes to the concrete evidence of His tender, sovereign authority and perpetual devotion to man.

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