The Sanctity of the Home

Duncan Sinclair

It is generally conceded that one of the strongest influences in the lives of the people is the home. The days of childhood and youth are highly impressionable days, and in them habits of thought and action are readily acquired. Instinctively the child copies the ways of his parents, their attitude to each other and to himself often making a deep impression upon him, molding his thought and his life. One often wonders if those who have the upbringing of children realize as they should the responsibility that rests upon them because of the effect their lives have upon those entrusted to their care!

The ideal home for the child is that in which love reigns, for in an atmosphere of love he is free to develop along every good line. Think how love guides in sweet and wise ways; how thought that is loving corrects the erring one wisely and firmly, yet withal gently, mindful of the wise man's words, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Think of the patience of love, of its gentleness, of its persuasiveness. Think of love's reasonableness, its basis established in an understanding of the power of good. And when, through Christian Science, the parents' thought is illumined by the knowledge that the power of good is unlimited and that evil is false and powerless, what an influence it is in the lives of the young!

There can be no question of the fact that a righteous home life aids tremendously the moral and spiritual life of the child. If parents are themselves moral; if they are pure in their thoughts and upright in their dealings with others; if they consistently uphold the Decalogue, acting honestly and justly by their fellow men, bearing no false witness against their neighbor but testifying in their hearts to the perfection of man in God's image, what an example they are bound to be to those of tender years! Unselfishness, sister of affection, how it blesses its surroundings! And in the home it should be found in all its self-forgetfulness, a steady influence for good. "Home is the dearest spot on earth," says Mrs. Eddy on page 58 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures;" "and it should be the centre, though not the boundary, of the affections."

Since the influence of the thoughts and actions of parents is so marked, they should weigh the effect of these on both themselves and the children. And here one thinks of fidelity, that faithfulness which should be outstandingly characteristic of married life. Do those who have been unfaithful to each other ever think how far-reaching is the effect of their conduct on the children for whom they are responsible? Do they ever think how their example may tend to dim the faith of the children in love and good, and to make them skeptical of virtue and honor? How often has foolish, selfish thoughtlessness brought ruin on homes that unselfish affection and patient gentleness would have preserved as "the dearest spot on earth"! "Be faithful over home relations; they lead to higher joys: obey the Golden Rule for human life, and it will spare you much bitterness" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 287).

Human will, unsupported by the desire for good, must be watched. It aims at having its own way regardless of consequences. It is blind to the beauty of the blossoms of love, and destroys them. It crushes out happiness and joy, to satisfy itself. The Christian Scientist knows the evil tendencies and effects of will-power, knows how it paralyzes right activity, undermines health and, if unchecked, ends in disaster. Our Leader thus exposes it (Science and Health, p. 446). "The exercise of will brings on a hypnotic state," she says, "detrimental to health and integrity of thought. This must therefore be watched and guarded against." The hypnotism must be broken to free one; and the way to do this is to substitute for the selfish human will the unselfish desire to do good. Thus are "health and integrity of thought" reestablished.

There is an illuminating chapter in Science and Health on the subject of marriage—the third chapter. It is replete with the wisest advice to all who have vowed to be faithful to the marriage covenant. To those who are contemplating marriage it is a great moral and spiritual guide. To those who may be having problems after marriage, it is one of the most friendly and healing messages ever penned. And throughout, this chapter pleads for and shows how to preserve the sanctity of the home.

Duncan Sinclair

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Unreality of Self-Will

March 17, 1934

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