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I’m not the glue

At times it may feel as though maintaining a group’s harmony and happiness falls squarely on our own shoulders. But opening our thought to the unifying power of God brings peace of mind and a deeper spirit of togetherness to our interactions.

  • By Heidi Kleinsmith Salter

Christian Science Perspective audio edition
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“If it weren’t for me, this whole thing would fall apart.” That’s what I’ve thought at different times in my life when I’ve been involved in various group projects, organizations, and relationships.

Soon after I remarried, the pandemic hit, bringing my college-age kids home. This meant we were all under one roof for much longer than short visits. While I loved having everyone together, I also felt it was up to me to maintain everyone’s individual happiness and our collective harmony.

This became a source of daily stress – until one day when, after thinking, “I’m the glue holding this family together,” I remembered this passage from “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures” by Mary Baker Eddy, the discoverer of Christian Science: “Adhesion, cohesion, and attraction are properties of Mind” (p. 124).

In Christian Science, Mind is a name for God, the perfect intelligence governing the universe. “Adhesion” applies to bringing unlike substances together, while “cohesion” involves bringing together substances that are like each other. So, if those qualities are “properties of Mind,” then in my family mix of both similarities and differences, the uniting force is God.

I realized, “I’m not the glue! I’m not responsible for holding people together any more than I’m responsible for holding the universe together!” Divine Mind maintains the harmony of all its spiritual ideas, all God’s children, which includes everybody. We can be assured that whatever we do for our families or others, as long as we’re expressing the wisdom of infinite Mind and acting out of love, we really can’t do something wrong.

Soon I was able to see more of the good that already existed in our household. Our interactions grew even more relaxed and fun. Now, a couple of years later, both kids are happily living in their own spaces and pursuing their own activities. And our family unity continues, whether we’re all together in one place or chatting on Zoom.

I’m not the glue, you’re not the glue, and neither is anyone else. The one true unifier is our Father-Mother God.

Adapted from the April 11, 2022, Christian Science Daily Lift podcast.

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