To a student

A spiritual look at issues of interest to young people

Dear Ted: I've sure been thinking a lot about you lately. Especially since I talked to one of your teachers. She told me you feel that your parents are not having time enough for you. I hope you don't mind, but she said you were crying about it.

I also hope you don't mind me saying I've wanted to put my arms around you and tell you how wonderful I think you are, and how easy it is to love you. Actually, I've been doing that in my thoughts. More important, maybe, is that I've been thinking about how much GOD loves you.

Let me tell you about that.

In the Bible it says that God is Love. And it says that God is Spirit, which means God is filling all space. That's really a LOT of love. In fact, so much love that we're all included.

There are four words that have helped me know about God's love.

The love from God is INFINITE. There is just no place without His love, and no end to it. We can't possibly be separated from it. The Bible says this with a promise that "neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God." (That's in the book of Romans.) That always makes me feel how strong the power of God is to hold on to me and love me.

The love from God is UNCONDITIONAL. God just loves us all the time. We don't need to do something to get His love. It doesn't depend on how good you are or what you do. Love is a gift from God to each of us.

The love from God is UNIVERSAL. It's all around everyone. God doesn't have favorites. He doesn't skip over anyone. God loves your mom and dad, and all your brothers, and your sister, too.

The love from God is PRACTICAL. That means He loves us in just the right way. So we can feel love and understand it. "Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need." That's how Mary Baker Eddy said it when she was writing "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." Now, that doesn't mean God gives you a video game just because you want it. But He gives you the thoughts you need so you can see and feel love.

For instance, I've always liked thinking that God's love is like a father and a mother to me. And I've seen examples of it in my own life. Something special happened to me when I no longer had my own mom with me. I found that there was always someone doing the kinds of things my mom had done for me. "Mothering" seemed to pop out everywhere! I continued to feel those warm, comforting feelings of being loved.

That's why I'm so sure God is able to give you the love you need. And it might come in the most unexpected ways!

Keep looking for the love of God to show up in your life. Keep looking to see it everywhere. You'll feel it when somebody in your class wants to work with you on something, or when someone brings a special book for you, or when your dog curls up next to you.

Of course, you can expect that God will show your mom and dad and your brothers and sister how to love you, too, in ways that are perfect for all of you.

One last important thing ... God will show you how to love back. He wants you to be part of the loving that everyone needs. God gives thoughts that show us what to do to be happy.

Ted, I know you have all the love you need - because God loves you.

'Bye for now.

Ms. S.

(c) Copyright 1999. The Christian Science Publishing Society