When one takes up the study of Christian Science and begins to view life and its activities from an entirely new standpoint, he finds the essential need for individual work and sees that he cannot solve another's problem for him, no matter how much his heart yearns to do so. As a rule this lesson is not easily learned; in fact there are usually bitter tears shed and many failures registered before we are ready to lay down self-will and let God's will be done. Especially is this true when the question involves those of our own household, for human affection sometimes makes us overzealous in the desire to help our dear ones see and know the truth.
This anxiety reaches its zenith in the case of mother and child, for the mortal belief that we own something is always accompanied by fear in some form,—fear of defects, fear of suffering, fear of death. From the moment that an infant makes its appearance on the stage of human existence it is haunted by this specter, and blessed indeed is that mother whose faith in God is so calm and steadfast that she is able to rely wholly upon Him for guidance.
In the first place a mother believes that she has helped to bring the child into existence, that it is dependent upon her for protection, training, and education. Usually the sense of duty and responsibility far outweighs her joy, for the consummate egotism of mortal mind, masquerading under the guise of maternal love, would deceive her and make her believe that she must assist divine Mind in unfolding His own idea. Even with a knowledge of the truth in Christian Science to help us this old serpent, the belief in mortal motherhood, gives us plenty of employment. It drives us from pillar to post, until discouraged and exhausted with our efforts to elude it we finally flee to the outstretched arms of Love, and there learn that there is but one Father and Mother, and that if we but trust we shall always be given the wisdom to reflect divine Love and thus express true motherhood.
