My daughter had just had a baby, and as a master’s degree student, she needed help reconciling her studies and motherhood tasks. She lives in another country and asked me if I could come and help her out for three months.
At first this seemed like a long time to take off work. But as I turned to God in prayer, I understood that being by her side for this period would be good for both of us. As I prayed to be sure that everything would work out with my job, I held firmly to the idea that we live and move in God, good, divine Life and Love.
That week, this passage appeared in the Bible Lesson from the Christian Science Quarterly: “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering” (Colossians 3:12). I decided to mentally “put on” the qualities described above and acknowledged that it was impossible for good not to be expressed. I also recognized that our Father-Mother God is always by our side, never leaves us, and always provides an answer.
I spoke to my immediate supervisor about my work shifts, as it would be necessary for someone to cover mine while I was away. These words from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy came to mind: “Desire is prayer; . . .” (p. 1). It was clear to me that my desire to be with my daughter at that moment was right and just. I also felt the inspiration to volunteer for a few extra shifts that were still uncovered in the following weeks, to make up for some of the days I would be away.
In Science and Health it also states, “Father-Mother is the name for Deity, which indicates His tender relationship to His spiritual creation” (p. 332). This statement eliminated every feeling of fear and uncertainty as I began working the extra shifts.
It felt crucial to recognize that good was unfolding in my life, especially when I felt exhausted. The certainty that God was my very present help, my Rock, and my refuge did not allow material sense to cause me to doubt the truth that I am the image and likeness of God as a spiritual idea; I knew I was there to express Him with wholeness, health, good cheer, joy, and gratitude.
It states in the Bible, “For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building” (I Corinthians 3:9). I contemplated this idea and the reality and the power of good on every shift, and stopped feeling overwhelmed and tired. When the day arrived for the trip to my daughter’s house, everything was in place so that I would be able to spend the three months with her.
I am very grateful for the teachings of Christian Science. I attended Sunday School from the age of nine, continued on to become a member of a branch church, and later took Christian Science Primary class instruction.
At the time of my trip, I had just started to take a Christian Science nursing training course, which I plan to finish this year. In this training, I learned that “a member of The Mother Church who represents himself or herself as a Christian Science nurse shall be one who has a demonstrable knowledge of Christian Science practice, who thoroughly understands the practical wisdom necessary in a sick room, and who can take proper care of the sick” (Mary Baker Eddy, Church Manual, p. 49).
The training was very useful during the time I spent with my daughter and grandson, and I was able to practice my “demonstrable knowledge” of Christian Science in many situations, turning to Mind, God, in prayer for guidance, and listening to the ideas and inspirations from this ever-active divine Mind. I felt wisely guided in the care of my daughter and her baby.
At one point during a distressing situation, I reached out to one of my mentors from the Christian Science nursing course. She immediately offered clear and firm guidance on what I could do, which helped me uplift my thinking and my understanding of the work I was doing. With this perspective, I felt more ready to put into practice the Christian Science nursing skills I’d been learning. It was also very helpful to study the Christian Science Bible Lesson daily, and to attend my branch church’s Sunday services, broadcast in Portuguese via Zoom from Brazil. I really felt supported by God and His ever-present, ever-active love. And this was all the support I needed to carry out my tasks and help my daughter.
I returned home feeling confident that my daughter and the baby were managing very well. I am very grateful for the knowledge that Mrs. Eddy gave us about our true identity as children of God, and about the fact that the only reality we can truly experience is that of the kingdom of heaven.
