Single parent?

There's no such thing. If by singlem we mean a bereft, inadequate, frightened mother or father, one who has been separated by death or divorce from security, competence, and courage, there is no such man or woman in God's creation.

When my husband died, I temporarily lost sight of this fact. I was alone with two small boys. I felt inadequate. I thought the only way to bring up children properly would be to remarry. But as time went on and no suitable husband appeared, I became discouraged.

Then, slowly, I realized that by clinging to the belief that I was incomplete without a husband, I was limiting myself. Through Christian Science I had learned that man, God's reflection, is just as complete as God. Mary Baker Eddy , The Discoverer and Founder of this Science, writes in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,m "As the reflection of yourself appears in the mirror, so you, being spiritual, are the reflection of God." n1 Later on the same page she states, "Man and woman as coexistent and eternal with God forever reflect, in glorified quality, the infinite Father-Mother God."

n1 Science and Health,m p. 516.

Glorified quality!m The more distinctly I saw the glorified quality of my being as the perfect reflection of God, the stronger I grew. Man's Christly nature, the oneness with God that Jesus expressed in his unparalleled mission on earth, became clearer and clearer to me. He had no wife, but he was whole. So being husbandless could not limit me. And my children could not suffer from being fatherless. They hadm their only true Father, God.

Through study of the Bible lessons given in the Christian Science Quarterly, which by this time the boys were old enough to read with me, we all gained a clearer realization of the limitless possibilities of man.

Then one day we were offered the opportunity to put this new concept of our unlimited selves into action. My brother, who operated a shipping service between South and North America, suggested that we move to Lima for a year or two. It would be an adventure.

Could I possibly uproot us? Leave our safe, familiar existence?

Why not? said the boys. We could never be uprooted from God! So when we found that Lima had an English-language grammar school and a branch Church of Christ, Scientist, we invited my mother to go with us, and left.

What began as a year in Peru stretched to eight glorious years in five countries. We were like those to whom the New Testament writer wrote, "Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; . . ." n2

n2 Hebrews 12:1, 2.

We did indeed look "unto Jesus," and the Christ-idea, through daily application of the truths we were learning in Christian Science. Our needs for home, church, schools, friends, and money were met. And each need met was a blessing, a further proof that God is our ever-present Father-Mother, everywhere.

"Prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." n3

n3 Malachi 3:10.

Man in God's image lacks nothing. When we see ourselves in this perfect image, lay aside the weights of fear and worry, refuse to accept lonesomeness and limitation as any part of our real being, we can never think of ourselves as singlem parents. We have God.