I lay in bed, racked by anxiety about my son, whom I had not heard from for a while. My many phone calls and messages had gone unanswered. A few weeks later I was informed that he had been using methamphetamine (popularly known as crystal meth), a highly addictive substance destructive to health and clear thinking that has led to many deaths.

Not only was I deeply concerned about my son’s health, but he had just begun a promising career, and now it appeared in danger of being derailed. But my greatest anguish was simply not being able to be in touch with him.

I contacted a Christian Science practitioner, who began to turn my thought toward the fact that God is everyone’s true Father. Christ Jesus’ instruction “Call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven” (Matthew 23:9) helps to lift parents above a feeling of personal responsibility through the realization that our heavenly Father governs the actions and life of all of His offspring. The Apostle Peter encourages us to cast “all your care upon [God]; for he careth for you” (I Peter 5:7). And that care includes our children.