A relationship restored

Throughout Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures and her other writings, Mary Baker Eddy uses terms like Father-Mother, God and God ... the parent Mind (see for example, Science and Health, pp. 335 and 336) to illustrate the inclusiveness of God’s nature and God as our Parent—the one who cares for, guides, and protects us, and brings us reassurance and confidence. These terms are reassuring to me, and through my increasing understanding of what they imply of God’s allness, gave me the confidence to pursue the restoration of my relationship with my father.

My parents divorced when I was a young child, and my subsequent contact with my father was infrequent, which caused me some heartache. Later on he had two other marriages and two more children. He was particularly successful in his profession and was widely and frequently praised. Although rightly deserved, this praise was not only overwhelming for me, but also brought out feelings of personal inadequacy.

I have experienced so much evidence of God’s protection in different circumstances, protection that comes in the form of angels—thoughts from God that guide and guard us, and lovingly hold us when we falter. I saw these angel messages guiding me when a loving family member encouraged me to contact my father, and when I became acquainted with a person who had recently seen and spoken with my father. I believed God’s hand was in mine, and, safe in the knowledge that “Mind, the one Father-Mother God” (Rudimental Divine Science, p. 4 ) was in control, I knew I would be led to contact my father at the appropriate time.

I contacted my father to try to arrange a meeting, but there was some reluctance on his part. Eventually we did meet, and although he greeted me cordially, there was a certain holding back. This happened several more times over subsequent meetings. Although I felt despondent about this apparent distance between us, at the same time, I felt God had brought me to the point where I could with His help heal the breach.

I thought so much about the term Father-Mother God, which illustrates God’s encompassing love for all His children, a love that is always present. It was clear that since I am a child of God, so are we all. Thoughts of never building a warm relationship threatened to discourage me, but at the same time, I saw evidence of progress as my letters and phone calls to my father gradually began to be reciprocated.

Evidence of the healing came on a particular day when I was travelling to a prearranged meeting with my father. I waited for my underground train at Victoria Station in London, and when the train drew into the platform and the doors opened, my father was sitting on the train exactly opposite to where I was standing on the platform. I entered the train and sat beside him, and for the first time, I was greeted warmly and spontaneously.

With renewed confidence and gratitude, our relationship began to gain strength. We shared some warm moments together, and were able to talk naturally about everyday matters, which we had not been able to do previously. Later on, he even stayed with me in my home, something I had not previously thought possible. In his later years, I was able to give him care, support, and, yes, love, and to visit him regularly when he was in a residential care facility. The words from the Bible, “I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten” (Joel 2:25 ) resonate strongly.

In Science and Health, Mrs. Eddy writes, “There is but one creator and one creation. This creation consists of the unfolding of spiritual ideas and their identities, which are embraced in the infinite Mind and forever reflected. These ideas range from the infinitesimal to infinity, and the highest ideas are the sons and daughters of God” (pp. 502–503 ). My gratitude for Christian Science knows no bounds, and this healing stands out like a beacon in my life.

Diana Impey
London, England