"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." ^{III John 1:4;} These beautiful words from III John find an immediate response in the heart of dedicated parents. It is their earnest desire to fulfill the responsibility of caring for their children and training them so that they will indeed "walk in truth." How necessary, then, for parents to trust their children wholly to the care of God, Love, who is the only Father-Mother and the only power!

The care and training of children naturally begin in the home. However, here is often where the challenge is great, because the ties of the flesh claim to be strong, sometimes obscuring the scientific fact of individuals' true, spiritual relationship to God and to each other. It is helpful for the parent to recall Christ Jesus' words, "Call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven." ^{Matt. 23:9;} And Mrs. Eddy, speaking of God as our Father-Mother, writes, "He is man's only real relative on earth and in heaven." ^{Miscellaneous Writings, p. 151.}

Parents who understand that God is the only creator can provide a home that is serene and happy, one in which fear and domination have been replaced by trust in God and selfish affection has given way to a love reflecting divine Love. These parents see themselves as trustees with sacred obligations but without the bonds of ownership. Such parents can provide an atmosphere of greater freedom for their children, enabling them to grow into adulthood confident of their perfect, spiritual sonship with God and of His care of them at all times.

Conceived of humanly, motherhood often seems to be a mixture of pride, possession, fear, and of anger if the safety of her child is threatened. However, mother love also includes the qualities of purity, trust, and unselfish affection.

Several years ago a sincere student of Christian Science became deeply troubled about her son. The young man, who was in high school, was having academic difficulties so serious that his confidence in himself was undermined. He accepted the verdict of his teachers that he did not have the ability to do the work. As their arguments against college entrance were presented, the young man's parents were overwhelmed with the seeming reality of the situation.

The mother tried as earnestly as she knew how to overcome her fears and see her son as God's complete, intelligent child, always in His care. When the situation seemed darkest, the way opened for the young man to go away to school. Because the step seemed to be God's direction and provision, the parents gratefully accepted this development.

During this period a Bible citation in the Lesson-Sermon from the Christian Science Quarterly one week contained the narrative of Hagar and her son, Ishmael. It is related in the twenty-first chapter of Genesis that Hagar and Ishmael were sent into the wilderness of Beer-sheba. When their water was gone, Hagar was sure her son would perish, and in her despair she turned away from him. The account continues that God heard the voice of the boy and the angel of God told Hagar not to be afraid.

The fact that God heard the lad despite the grief of the mother made a deep impression upon the Christian Scientist. She pondered this in the light of her own and her son's experience. She saw that it was a false, material sense of motherhood that was causing her worry and anguish and keeping both herself and her son in bondage. The remedy, the mother gratefully saw, was to understand that she and her son were the beloved children of God, under His protection and loving care always.

As this truth developed in her thought, the mother's fear gave way to trust, and the young man was freed to develop his Godgiven individuality. He finished his secondary schooling satisfactorily and entered the college of his choice, where he has continued to do well.

Lessons gained from experiences such as this can help parents under any worrisome circumstances. Turning to God as the only parent can bring the joyous realization that children "walk in truth."