One of my more treasured demonstrations of Christian Science over a period of forty years concerns a human relationship. A dear daughter was very sure she loved a certain young man and accepted an engagement ring from him, even though his background and ideals were distinctly contrary to the teaching she had received in a Christian Science Sunday School.
For many months I attempted to explain and persuade through reason and revelation that a union such as this would not have the bond of understanding necessary to a harmonious relationship, but to no avail. So, a mother, so sure she was right, and a daughter, so sure her mother was wrong, only served to give error seeming reality. For me it was a time of prayerful study which brought much-needed growth out of the self-righteousness of a human mother demanding obedience.
One morning, after lengthy study, in complete humility, I prayed, "Dear God, please show me what it is I need to know to see harmony demonstrated in this case." I opened the Bible and read in Nehemiah (13: 25), "And I contended with them . . . and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves." Instantly I saw that this was answered prayer, showing me that by making a reality of the problem, I had built it up in my thinking instead of reducing it to nothing and casting it out. I was then able to trust divine Love to care for my daughter, knowing Truth would guide and direct her, because she was actually a child of God and not the child of a mortal.
