I love the parable in the book of Matthew that tells of the Son of man, the King, dividing the sheep from the goats, determining who has served him and who has served only themselves. It states in part:
“For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matthew 25:35–40).
Jesus’ parable of separating the sheep from the goats because of their kindness and care—or lack thereof—to their fellow man, was what inspired me to become a Christian Science nurse. I wanted to show this kind of care to everyone—serving them unconditionally as I would serve the Christ, which Mary Baker Eddy described as “the spiritual or true idea of God” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 347). I began to look on everyone I came into contact with as holy and blessed. I ask myself daily, Is there room in my “inn,” my consciousness, for this beloved child? Will I see the Christ in every activity?
