Motherhood is proving to be an incredible time for me to learn more about our Father-Mother God and how She cares for me and for all of us. I’ve practiced Christian Science my whole life, and it’s been natural to rely on God for my own health. I remain grateful for the many healings I’ve experienced. As a parent, I’m learning a whole new dimension of what it means to trust God. Every time I look into the beautiful eyes of my happy, healthy baby girl, I am so humbled by God’s care for her and our whole family.
Last fall, when my daughter was about a year old, I nestled her in on the couch for one of her favorite pastimes—looking out the window. I turned away for just a moment, when she managed to roll herself off the couch, hitting her head on the corner of a wooden toy building block.
I immediately picked her up to comfort and care for her. She was not bleeding, but there was a mark on her forehead that looked as if it could turn into a significant bruise.
She was crying quite a bit, but as I held my daughter in my arms, I acknowledged God’s uninterrupted loving care for both of us. Despite the appearance of accident and hurt, it was so clear to me that we both were the flawless expression of God. By loving my daughter, I was demonstrating God’s love for her and showing her how our Father-Mother cares for us always. Through prayer, I put aside any view of myself as a mortal mother, and instead saw God as our Maker.
I thought about a hymn from the Christian Science Hymnal that’s based on the ninety-first Psalm. Its second verse says:
His tender love and watchful care
Shall free thee from the fowler’s snare,
From every harm and pestilence.
He over thee His wings shall spread
To cover thy unguarded head.
His truth shall be thy strong defense.
(Adapt. from Tate and Brady, No. 99, adapt. © CSBD)
I let go of any sense of blame or false responsibility and just let God comfort and calm my little girl and me. I could see that I was a “window,” clear as I could possibly be, to let God, Love, shine through me. I know my daughter felt our Father-Mother God’s love all around her, too, because within moments her crying began to ease up. After a couple more minutes, she was fine and back to her normal, happy playing, and there have been no negative effects. The spot where she hit her head never turned into a bruise, and the mark soon faded.
I had heard people use the expression, “Be a window for God,” but before this healing, I’d never really understood what it meant. I realized then that it means to get mortal thinking—fear, uncertainty, a false sense of responsibility—out of the way and let God shine through us.
I am so blessed to be walking this journey of parenthood with God and with the understanding that it is the power of divine Love working through me. I am so grateful for our Father-Mother Love’s tender, loving care for my daughter.
Lauren Brinkley
Vanceboro, North Carolina, US
