Adults are often philosophical about their own problems and afflictions, sometimes priding themselves on their ability to withstand courageously the suffering, woe, and limitation that they mistakenly believe to be part of God's plan for man— a kind of punishment, perhaps, for long-forgotten sins either real or imaginary. But these same adults find it not so easy to be philosophical about the suffering and affliction of little children whom they know to be innocent and for whom Christ Jesus showed such tender affection when he said (Luke 18:16), "Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God."
According to Christian Science, to believe that God is capable of vengeance or knows and condones affliction is contrary to everything Christ Jesus taught and practiced. Of his relationship to God, the Master said (John 10:30), "I and my Father are one," and this Mrs. Eddy takes to mean, as she explains in Science and Health, that Father and son are one in quality, not quantity. She writes (p. 361), "As a drop of water is one with the ocean, a ray of light one with the sun, even so God and man, Father and son, are one in being."
Does it not follow, then, that the children of God must be Godlike in every quality of their being? This is a reasonable conclusion that enables us to see children in Science as spiritual identities, complete, whole, intelligent, and in possession of all their faculties. And, being governed by the eternal laws of Spirit, these identities are not and never can be the helpless victims of the so-called material laws that would distort, destroy, and defeat humanity. When these truths are known, the children cannot be robbed of their God-given ability to reason and act normally, nor can they be deprived of that delightful time we call childhood. Not only is God the loving Parent of all, but also He is the divine Principle of man; and by His changeless laws, He maintains and preserves the radiant joy and boundless activity of being.
