In most of the world in years past there was never much question as to who was responsible for children. Parental authority was generally accepted. The head of the family—most often the father—supervised the offspring's schooling, health care, and religious training. He might even determine when it was appropriate for the child to speak!
But the trend today is to help children express their own individuality and potential. The result is that parents are more and more being offered outside help in solving problems relating to their children. In some cases professional help may be the sensible choice. But the "helping professions" may unwittingly cause parents to feel inadequate, largely because of "experts'" claims of always knowing what is best.
Parents would do well to consider who is ultimately responsible for children. The Bible tells us, "Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus."Gal. 3:26; As God's children, we express the Christ, which was so perfectly exemplified by our Master, Christ Jesus. The Christ is active in each of us, shown in the qualities God gives us, such as intelligence, understanding, and individuality. Parents are called upon to nurture these qualities in their children, even while making the necessary decisions in their behalf. Sooner or later each child must become independent enough to recognize and demonstrate the Christ for himself. While protecting the developing thought of our children, we must watch that we're not seeing them as somehow incomplete. In reality they are expressions of God's being— reflections of God's perfect nature—now and forever. In the Glossary of Science and Health, Mrs. Eddy begins her item on "children": "The spiritual thoughts and representatives of Life, Truth, and Love."Science and Health, p. 582;
