The Mother Love that heals

One spring, robins nested on the ledge of our porch. We watched mother-love in action as the mama robin built the nest and hovered over her eggs. Then, after they hatched, she and the father bird both provided food, defended their young from intruders, and taught the fledglings to fly. That relationship of mother, father, and nestlings guaranteed all the care needed for their well-being. While this type of bi-parental care is common in most bird species, in 95 percent of mammal species, the female is the sole caregiver for the young. Across the wide diversity of life on our planet, it is inspiring to see the vital role of mother-love. 

All love has its source in God, the one Father-Mother whose whole universe is the creative self-expression of perfect Love. This creation is entirely spiritual and without a single harmful element. Not only is Love the source of all creation, but it is also the mothering force that is the Life that rules the universe, graciously sustaining and tenderly cherishing all Her own, forever. Our Father-Mother, divine Love, ensures health, harmony, fruition, and eternal life for all.

God is always loving Her creation, and throughout the Scriptures this beautiful ribbon of Mother-love is clearly seen in the healing of individuals and nations—binding up the brokenhearted, neutralizing flames, closing the mouths of lions, making javelins harmless, lifting off despair and injustice, and comforting those who mourn.

For example, Hagar was distraught in the wilderness because her water and provisions were spent, and it appeared her young son would soon perish (see Genesis 21:9–20). But the comforting Mother-love of God was right there. Weeping, Hagar placed her son under a shrub and turned away so as not to see his death. But God heard the voice of the boy and spoke to his mother, saying, “Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation.”

How beautiful it is that Hagar received this loving message not to give up but to go to her child and “lift up the lad”—to hug, love, and cherish him. As she did, her eyes were opened to see a well of water that sustained them both. In her loving obedience to God’s direction, wasn’t the mother, even in these seemingly dire circumstances, expressing the divine Mother-love that is everlasting, unconditional, impartial, and omnipotent? In so doing, she and her son felt and experienced Love’s healing presence and care and were safe.

The noonday brilliance of divine Love’s fathering and mothering shines most clearly throughout Jesus’ healings. They demonstrate that Love is the law that leaves no room for anything unlike itself, for it declares that there is nothing except God, who is Love. Jesus showed conclusively that divine Love is really the only power and that this understanding brings freedom from every trouble. This healing activity is the presence of Christ. As the Christian Science textbook states: “Jesus mapped out the path for others. He unveiled the Christ, the spiritual idea of divine Love” (Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 38).

Christ Jesus embraced all, individually and collectively, as the loved sons and daughters of God when he prayed: “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; . . . I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them” (John 17:20, 21, 26). The Christ confirms our eternal oneness with the Father-Mother Love that sustains our well-being.

Nothing can ever separate us from our true heritage—our health, supply, purity, and immortality—because Love is infinite. Spiritual love makes us conscious of our oneness with God and of the health, holiness, and life it brings. Love’s harmonious omni-action leaves no room for the disordered action of disease. Love sustains our being as undiminished, thus dissolving the limitations believed to accompany age. Love opens our eyes to behold abundant good at hand. Love’s power perpetuates our wholeness and productivity eternally.

In whatever situation we find ourselves, Love is there first. And in its calming presence there is no fear. Our Mother, Love, is always present, lifting us to the light of Truth that reveals our wholeness. Healing results when we humbly accept and rejoice in Her presence, as an experience I had illustrates.

I had been in pain for three days. I was diligently praying but was unable to find a comfortable position or to sleep. There were other alarming symptoms that were aggressive. On the third night, my prayer settled into simple humility, like a child sitting in her mother’s lap and feeling comfort and peace. Then I heard in thought a mothering voice—so tender, the most loving voice I have ever heard—saying, “Come along with Me, and I will take care of you.” 

It wasn’t that divine Love knew I was suffering, but rather that because of my inherent relationship with Her, I was forever cared for and cherished. It was as if Love itself was saying, “Just come with Me, fall into My open arms, and I will embrace and care for you always.” 

Again, the voice in thought said with unutterable kindness and sweet persuasion, “Just come along with Me, and I will take care of you.” The loving command was irresistible. I thought, “Yes.” Effortlessly, I aligned with this tender message of God and fell instantly asleep. In the morning I awoke refreshed, completely well. All symptoms had vanished. 

This light-filled holy encounter revealed to me as never before my intimate relationship to my Father-Mother, God. I discovered that woven into that relationship is a divine energy of everlasting care, the most comforting, health-giving presence and power. It was awe-inspiring to be conscious of the beautiful Mother Love that I know is always watching over me, and all Her creation, with a gentleness that is divinely pure and constant. 

Christian Science treatment is undergirded with a clear sense of God’s love for us—a humble recognition of our oneness with Love’s infinite care. It is because our divine Parent loves us perpetually that healing is inevitable. Nothing can resist the power of ever-present Love. It’s a health-giving presence that allows nothing to harm us but provides everything needed to keep us safe and well.

When asked to describe her own healing work, Mrs. Eddy said: “I saw the love of God encircling the universe and man, filling all space, and that divine Love so permeated my own consciousness that I loved with Christlike compassion everything I saw. This realization of divine Love called into expression ‘the beauty of holiness, the perfection of being’ (Science and Health, p. 253), which healed and regenerated and saved all who turned to me for help” (We Knew Mary Baker Eddy, Expanded Edition, Vol. 1, p. 153).

In our healing practice, how glorious to behold the whole universe as Love’s manifestation, expressing the infinite action of Love! Conscious that we dwell in that spiritual universe, we see the eternal circle of harmonious being, uninterrupted in its unfoldment and all-embracing in its scope. And this brings healing to those whom we would help. They dwell safely in divine Love, not as children of the flesh with problems but as children of God, blessed with boundless harmony and good. They reflect this heritage and shine forth as Love’s living witnesses.

Love is impartial, tenderly enveloping, sustaining, supporting, and singing over Her creation, from the infinitesimal to the infinite. She loves you and all with an ever-abiding affection and care that provide everything needed for each one’s well-being. Indeed, perfect Love has designed all that is requisite for each of us to be purposeful, fruitful, healthy, happy, and immortal, and to glorify God—now and forever. Rejoicing in this Father-Mother Love, we are well.