What a different world we would live in if we all lived by the Psalmist's words "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" (Ps. 133:1)

Unfortunately, it doesn't always work out that way. Families do not always dwell together in unity. What causes the indifference, or even hostility, that sometimes springs up? It couldn't be God. God is never indifferent or hostile to anyone or anything. He has no favorites. His love shines equally on all.

If God is not the cause of indifference or estrangement, then what is? The basic cause is believing that man is separated from God—that man was first created spiritually, wholly obedient to God, the one Mind that made him, but was then recreated from dust with a mind of his own. This latter man was not the true image of God, Spirit. The image of God would not act contrary to God's will. The account in the Bible of Cain slaying his brother Abel was an early act of alienation, not the action of man made as God's image (see Gen. 4:8-13).

There is, in reality, just one kind of man, and that is man made in the likeness of God. That's the real man, the true image (or idea) of God, always acting in harmony with his loving Father-Mother. Healing of conflict comes when we realize that we, our loved ones, and all with whom we have contact are this man, God's man, reflecting only the divine nature. Understanding this is the key to healing alienation. Science and Health by Mary Baker Eddy says, "With one Father, even God, the whole family of man would be brethren; and with one Mind and that God, or good, the brotherhood of man would consist of Love and Truth, and have unity of Principle and spiritual power which constitute divine Science" (pp. 469-470).

Here is how one family used their understanding of God's loving nature to resolve the estrangement of their oldest daughter. They loved their daughter very much. While away at college she developed an eating disorder and entered into group therapy discussions, looking for answers. Not finding answers there, she entered a mental care facility. Sometime during this period she turned completely against her parents, blaming them for all her troubles. A psychiatrist who treated her for a brief time told the parents that it was not unusual in this kind of case for a child to blame her parents.

From the very beginning, the parents knew that because God is Love and because they were striving to obey God, they could never stop loving their daughter. No matter how tough it was they always loved her in the best way they could, and they knew that her true nature, as God's child, was loving. The mother used the twenty-third Psalm in her prayers. Every morning she prayed something like this: "Divine Love is my daughter's Shepherd and she cannot want. She already has every quality she needs. God's correcting rod and supporting staff are always with her and are comforting and healing her." As she thought about this psalm, the reference to "valley of the shadow of death" meant to her the valley of the belief of life in matter, and she replaced this belief with the understanding that Spirit (God), not matter, is Life. With God as her life, her daughter could not include any qualities unlike God. Hate, disaffection, and estrangement were not natural to her. Throughout the day whenever the mother thought of her daughter, she would remember, "Divine Love is her Shepherd."

The girl's father also was diligent in his effort to love her unconditionally. He struggled to stop resenting how unappreciative she was of all the things he and her mother had done for her. He learned to think of her not as an ungrateful daughter but as a child of God. He also overcame resenting the people he thought were influencing her to blame her parents. He came to see clearly that God was her true Father and Mother. He saw that his daughter was not at fault, but was mesmerized by a mistaken view of herself and her parents. In reality, he, his wife, their daughter, and everyone around her were already included in God's love. As he loved his daughter more, he was strengthened by remembering her great love for animals. This helped him see that love had never really left his daughter's heart.

The turnaround was gradual, but it has been complete now for more than two years. Today her parents feel she couldn't be a more loving and thoughtful daughter. Her father says, "I have had quick healings, but the whole idea that if it isn't quick you continue striving for healing is important. Never give up."

No hatred or misunderstanding can last in the presence of genuine love—love based on an understanding of man's spiritual oneness with his heavenly Father, God, the one Mind. Christ Jesus couldn't have been more clear on the need to love unconditionally. In his Sermon on the Mount, he taught, "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust" (Matt. 5:44, 45).

If you are the object of alienation, the wrongs may seem very big and real. It may seem almost impossible to forgive, yet forgiveness and love are the cure. They bring peace when they are based on the understanding that God is the only Mind and that you and the ones you love are already children of God, held in, and reflecting, His love.