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Joy at the birth

A Christian Science perspective: Welcome, Prince George!

  • By Fenella Bennetts

A special kind of joy surrounds the appearing of a new member of the family. To see a little son or daughter for the first time is a moment parents never forget. Usually this event draws together the immediate family in relative privacy, but the arrival of Britain’s Prince George is one that seems to belong to the whole world! I found myself touched by the grace and humility of his parents as they shared a first view of their son with millions of well-wishers. 

The extraordinary breadth of interest in this birth reflects the expectations placed on him, the passionate interest with which his young life will be followed, and the scrutiny under which he will live. So much seems to have been placed on his young shoulders already.

This led me to think about the prophecy of possibly the most famous birth in human history. The book of Isaiah in the Bible tells of the coming of a child who was to carry the hopes and promises of a nation. The prophet states, “[A]nd the government shall be upon his shoulder” (Isaiah 9:6, 7).

Hundreds of years later, the birth of Jesus Christ of Nazareth brought this promise to fulfillment. The founder of The Christian Science Monitor, Mary Baker Eddy, described his coming in this way: “The advent of Jesus of Nazareth marked the first century of the Christian era, but the Christ is without beginning of years or end of days. Throughout all generations both before and after the Christian era, the Christ, as the spiritual idea, – the reflection of God, – has come with some measure of power and grace to all prepared to receive Christ, Truth” (“Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” p. 333).

In praying for our new young prince, I love to think of this power and grace of the Christ sheltering him, being the “shoulder” that bears the responsibility, guiding and guarding, and providing strength for the role he will be required to fulfill. I would like to feel that the joy at his birth will be followed through with our loving prayers all the days of his life.

Welcome, Prince George!

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