When someone is in trouble, the natural inclination is to go and help. You might call it the nurse in each of us. But there are also situations where, for one reason or another, it isn't possible to actually be where the help is needed. Even then, there's a way to be a nurse.
I needed to expand my understanding of God as a tender giver of care.
Several years ago, I was living on the opposite side of the globe from what I considered home, at a time when a close family member and a dear friend were both encountering serious illnesses. The great distance between us, as well as my own family and work obligations, made it impossible for me to be with them. Although my desire to go and help was very strong, I also realized that I was very afraid for them. I felt that I needed to get over this fear before I could do anything useful.
After speaking with one of the individuals on the phone one afternoon, I turned to God to ask what I could do. And then I listened. Words from a familiar hymn came to me: "In Thee I have no pain or sorrow, / No anxious thought, no load of care." Christian Science Hymnal, No. 154. This reminded me that sickness, pain, and fear couldn't be true in the presence of God. All they could ever be were lies about the nature of God as omnipotent goodness, and the nature of God's children as spiritual and whole.
I felt I needed a clearer understanding of the caring that God was doing. The Bible gently encourages, "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." I Pet. 5:6, 7. I had long thought of God as the great Physician. Now I needed to expand my understanding of God as a tender giver of care as well. I began to reason spiritually that God is wholly good, and blesses His own. God is divine Mind, and knows only the health and harmony of its ideas and couldn't possibly know or send disease and discord. God lasts, while sickness has no hold, no actual substance. And in God's all-inclusive love, I could never really be cut off from those I loved. I couldn't feel helpless or useless.
My anxiousness dissolved. I had more hope and faith, as well as a certainty that God was there, already helping in both cases. God's presence and power transcend time and space. That same hymn also says, "Thou art the same today, tomorrow; / Thy love and truth are everywhere." The sameness or constancy of God's care, and the "everywhere" presence of His love, are the only realities.
Real joy came when I realized that the deep peace I felt in connection with these two individuals was more helpful and powerful than my mere personal presence with them would have been. During our next conversation, both my friend and relative reported that they were making progress. Within a short time, each was completely and permanent well. And I had a clearer awareness of God's benevolent care. When I visited them a couple of months later, we were all so thankful that their normal health and happiness had been restored.
The kind of "nursing" I was able to give is really inherent in all of us, because it derives from the very source of benevolence itself—God, who is divine, ministering Love. Our heavenly Parent nurtures and cares for everyone, and as the likeness of this Love, we can't help but express His tenderness. The tender ministry of divine Love includes all the aspects of nursing. Science and Health has a beautiful description of a nurse's role: "The nurse should be cheerful, orderly, punctual, patient, full of faith,—receptive to Truth and Love." Science and Health, p. 395.
When you think about it, none of these qualities requires the nurse to be in the room with the patient. They describe a mental position. And these qualities aren't just for the person employed as a nurse. Anyone can help the patient out of fears and belief in the power of sickness, and into the truth that God gives only health.
Cheerfulness is a nursing quality because it is an antidote to fear. Based on the understanding of Love's absolute power and healing presence, cheer breaks the focus on sickness or injury. It conveys confidence that there is nothing to be afraid of because God is All, entirely good, and in complete control.
Orderliness cuts through the feeling of chaos that sickness often presents. The one in a nursing role can contribute an understanding that each dear, individual identity is divinely governed, because creation is the reflection of God, the divine Principle.
Punctuality is a form of selflessness, which is essential to healing. Recently, I've liked thinking of being punctual as being precise, or to the point, or as being scientific. I also like to think of it as being on time with knowing what's true—being quick to acknowledge God and His goodness, power, all-encompassing love.
Patience is also a nursing quality, but not patience with sickness. Effective nursing includes patiently expecting to see the inevitable effect of God's healing love.
Good nursing also includes being full of faith, or full of trust in God as the only substance. It radiates confidence that God's goodness is more powerful than anything else.
Receptivity to Truth and Love means being ready to listen to the healing messages God is sending. It's so normal to turn to God, as children turn to parents they love, expecting to be taken care of perfectly.
I'm learning to trust that when I become aware that help is needed somewhere, I can be directed by divine Love to know what my role is. Whether I physically go to the person or not, I can be confident of God's ability and availability to heal in every case. In each situation, a nurturing answer is supplied by divine Love.
