Article November 24, 2014 Issue

Shepherding through tests

Rondi Olson

For a Christian Scientist, it’s natural to turn to prayer for help in any situation. So when my children reached school age, it wasn’t long before I found myself praying about various aspects of school, and often about the standardized tests they took almost yearly.

As we’re taught in Christian Science, I endeavored to see my kids as children of God and to know that their real Father-Mother constantly gives them every thought they need—that they effortlessly reflect the infinite intelligence of God, divine Mind. I also worked to realize that educational theories and opinions can’t interfere with their expression of Mind or with God’s continuous unfoldment for them in all the ways that are right for them.

Early on a Saturday morning, when my daughter was to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), I turned to page 578 of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, where she quotes the 23rd Psalm, substituting divine Love for Lord. The first line actually startled me as I read—“[Divine Love] is my shepherd; I shall not want.” I realized, as I never had before, that I could trust divine Love, infinite Mind, to tenderly shepherd my daughter through her test that morning. Suddenly I felt a tremendous sense of relief and release from worry, knowing she could not “want” (lack) anything.