PARENTING December 28, 2009 Issue

PRACTICING THEIR SPIRITUAL ABCS

DUANNE VEIDELIS

AS A PARENT, I've found that sometimes the simplest rountines to remind my children of their spiritual nature can have a profound effect on their lives.

From the time our two boys were toddlers, our favorite bedtime activity has been to do their "ABCs"—that is, the "Cody ABCs" or the "Denny ABCs." Letter by letter we go through the alphabet and name specific spiritual qualities. As they've grown, the boys have had fun contributing to an ever-evolving list. Now they have a mental dictionary full of qualities and attributes that they know are true about them.

We've talked about how intelligence comes straight from God, Mind. Or creativity, from Soul. In fact, anything good can be linked back to a name for God in Christian Science—God who is Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Truth, and Love (see Science and Health, p. 587). It's natural then to relate these qualities to everyday life. For instance, "It's time for chores!" is a little easier for them to respond to when they identify with being diligent, conscientious, hardworking.