When Christ Jesus shared what is known as the last supper with his disciples, he went on to give them a "new" commandment: to love one another as he had loved them. But before telling them this, their Master had meekly washed their feet, saying: "If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you." John 13:14, 15
The Master's command to love one another was matched by his practical example of care for his fellowman. This Christly love, so exemplified by our Master, is at work in many areas of healing. One such area is Christian Science nursing.
We need look no further than the parable of the good Samaritan to understand the importance Jesus placed on taking proper care of the sick. The provision of care shown by the Samaritan was typical of the unselfed love the Master himself expressed and of the loving care he expected to see expressed by all those who follow him. The Samaritan story highlights the timeless qualities of a nurse—qualities of unselfishness, compassion, patience, tenderness. These Christly qualities, rather than academic qualifications, are the basic requirements for one wishing to be a Christian Science nurse.
