Father-Mother God's day

A few years ago on the day designated in the United States as Mother's Day, I was completely alone. For various reasons none of my grown children were with me , nor had they sent me traditional Mother's Day greetings, and my husband was away on a business trip.

Formerly such a situation would have depressed and disappointed me. However, that year, instead of being sad and lonely, I experienced an especially happy, productive day.

Acknowledging my joy, I asked myself, ''Why am I able to maintain this high sense of happiness although alone and seemingly forgotten on a day supposed to be a special time to commemorate motherhood?''

The answer came, ''Because you are gaining a truer sense of the motherhood and fatherhood of God.''

I had been studying the teachings of Christian Science, diligently perusing the Bible, to learn more of my true identity, and the identity of each member of my family, as the beloved child of God. I was learning through prayer and study that God is truly the Father and Mother of us all. Each individual in his real being is the complete, satisfied, cared-for offspring of God. A growing perception of this truth, of our enduring relationship to our creator and His provision of every need, heals feelings of loneliness and isolation.

To understand more and more of this basic relationship to God, we need to free ourselves and our family from the restrictive concept of material motherhood and fatherhood. At the same time we need to embrace and strengthen the tender, beautiful qualities of human parentage. For this spiritual concept of parenthood, of our real Father and Mother, takes nothing that is good and lasting from the human family. Rather, this higher concept elevates and purifies the family and each individual.

Christ Jesus taught that God is Father; but his teachings also point to the fact that God is Mother. The Way-shower emphasized the love of God, the forgiveness of God, the caring of God. Certainly these are motherly concepts.

Jesus also taught that God is the one grand creator. His healing works illustrated the truth that God creates and maintains all identities in perfect harmony. Parents who understand this fact to some extent are able to free their offspring from that ''smothering'' love caused by the belief that men and women are personal creators of other persons.

Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, perceived clearly the motherly qualities of God taught by Jesus. Through prayer, study of the Scriptures, and personal demonstration she realized that Deity is truly Father-Mother.

Mrs. Eddy writes in the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures: ''All things are created spiritually. Mind, not matter, is the creator. Love, the divine Principle, is the Father and Mother of the universe, including man.'' n1

n1 Science and Health, p. 256.

When a certain date on the calendar is marked as the time to celebrate a particular family relationship or occasion, the alert individual can rejoice in the comforting spiritual fact that all of God's offspring are always harmoniously related in the universal family of Love. In this universal family there is no lack of joy, of caring, of love.

Whether one is in the midst of a large family or is entirely alone, he can declare with the Psalmist, ''This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.'' n2

n2 Psalms 118:24.

Indeed, every day is Father-Mother God's day. DAILY BIBLE VERSE Be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create. Isaiah 65:18