After reading my blog two weeks ago, “Through the eyes of a child,” a reader sent me this comment…
I loved the one today about childrens' interpretation of the Bible. My all-time favorite from Sunday school was the little boy who told his mother that the teacher said he was a scurvy elephant. When the teacher was asked why she said that to the lad, she said, "No, I said he was a disturbing element!"
At times, when I have one of those types in my class, I think of this story and just laugh. It breaks the mesmerism for me.
Showing posts with label children. Show all posts
Showing posts with label children. Show all posts
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Benefits of Christian Science healthcare
After a doubles tennis match I played last night, one of the players talked about a recent ordeal he and his wife had in dealing with their son’s fever. The baby’s temperature was running very high, and they gave him medicine to control the fever. The medicine didn’t work and the baby continued to suffer for another day or two. They asked their doctor what else to do and received a recommendation. The new medicine made things worse. And so the story went on… After a few days, the fever finally went away.
This is not the first time I’ve heard stories of parents struggling with medical prescriptions and what to do for their child. I do not judge their actions, for they do the best they know. But my heart does yearn for them to see the benefits of scientific prayer and accept the possibility of spiritual healing.
So many people, the majority I suppose, have been so strongly educated into believing healthcare solutions are medical solutions, that healing through prayer doesn’t even cross their mental radar screen.
Some will point to failure of prayer to bring relief in some cases, and use those examples as evidence against relying upon God for healing. But the evidence is strongly to the contrary. Prayer works. Prayer heals. Scientific prayer, as taught in Christian Science, relieves fevers, colds, ills, pains and troubles effectively, and without any of the frequently dark side effects that accompany the use of drugs.
I have seen this success in my own life. Raised in a Christian Science household, I went through childhood without taking drugs for childhood illnesses. Sicknesses were generally healed quickly through spiritual means and without prolonged suffering.
This quality of turning to God in anytime of need has stayed with me through the decades. My wife and I have taught it to our children, and they have been raised drug-free from day one. I consider this one of the most special gifts we can give to our loved ones. They know first hand the healing power of God and how to rely upon it. This will stay with them forever.
Christian Science works. It heals. It is the most powerful form of relief on earth today. Yes, it sometimes takes heavy doses of humility to hear the angel thought that brings healing. Not all problems seem as easy to heal as others. But this is nothing unusual. There are varying degrees of difficulty to all of life’s tasks and opportunities. Ask any doctor…
With the huge outcry of protest over the present sad state of our healthcare system in the US, it certainly is not too early for people to consider the positive aspects of healing through scientific prayer. Christian Science has something very special to offer parents, adults, and children everywhere. Spiritual healing is the cleanest, safest, and most sanitary form of healing there is. There are no negative side effects to its application, and the positive benefit is that the beneficiary is not only healed physically, they are also improved morally, emotionally and spiritually. Spiritual healing works from the inside out, bringing moral and spiritual regeneration along with physical restoration.
For some people, scientific prayer might seem like “hard work.” But it’s not. It’s natural and normal to turn to one’s Father-Mother for help and find the assistance needed. Many do it with their human parents all of the time. Why not try it with our divine Parent!
God’s love is the most powerful medicine there is. It heals.
This is not the first time I’ve heard stories of parents struggling with medical prescriptions and what to do for their child. I do not judge their actions, for they do the best they know. But my heart does yearn for them to see the benefits of scientific prayer and accept the possibility of spiritual healing.
So many people, the majority I suppose, have been so strongly educated into believing healthcare solutions are medical solutions, that healing through prayer doesn’t even cross their mental radar screen.
Some will point to failure of prayer to bring relief in some cases, and use those examples as evidence against relying upon God for healing. But the evidence is strongly to the contrary. Prayer works. Prayer heals. Scientific prayer, as taught in Christian Science, relieves fevers, colds, ills, pains and troubles effectively, and without any of the frequently dark side effects that accompany the use of drugs.
I have seen this success in my own life. Raised in a Christian Science household, I went through childhood without taking drugs for childhood illnesses. Sicknesses were generally healed quickly through spiritual means and without prolonged suffering.
This quality of turning to God in anytime of need has stayed with me through the decades. My wife and I have taught it to our children, and they have been raised drug-free from day one. I consider this one of the most special gifts we can give to our loved ones. They know first hand the healing power of God and how to rely upon it. This will stay with them forever.
Christian Science works. It heals. It is the most powerful form of relief on earth today. Yes, it sometimes takes heavy doses of humility to hear the angel thought that brings healing. Not all problems seem as easy to heal as others. But this is nothing unusual. There are varying degrees of difficulty to all of life’s tasks and opportunities. Ask any doctor…
With the huge outcry of protest over the present sad state of our healthcare system in the US, it certainly is not too early for people to consider the positive aspects of healing through scientific prayer. Christian Science has something very special to offer parents, adults, and children everywhere. Spiritual healing is the cleanest, safest, and most sanitary form of healing there is. There are no negative side effects to its application, and the positive benefit is that the beneficiary is not only healed physically, they are also improved morally, emotionally and spiritually. Spiritual healing works from the inside out, bringing moral and spiritual regeneration along with physical restoration.
For some people, scientific prayer might seem like “hard work.” But it’s not. It’s natural and normal to turn to one’s Father-Mother for help and find the assistance needed. Many do it with their human parents all of the time. Why not try it with our divine Parent!
God’s love is the most powerful medicine there is. It heals.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
The healing power of Love
Two weeks ago, my daughter came home after school feeling very poorly. I didn’t know about the illness until I heard, “Mom, will you read to me from Science and Health?” Science and Health is a book all about spiritual healing. It’s the textbook of Christian Science.
I was cooking dinner, so as soon as I settled cooking pots on the stove down long enough to leave, I went into her bedroom to see what was happening.
Jenna lay in bed under thick covers. I sat down at her side and rested my hand on her arm. She was burning up with a raging heat and complained of a horrendous headache. She rarely complains about anything, so for her to even mention a problem meant it was no little struggle.
As I listened for angel thoughts to share, I just loved her. I looked into her eyes and saw a beloved child of God. I reminded her of how loved she was. I reassured her of the healing presence of God that works to keep her well. I reminded her that God made her healthy and keeps her healthy. We recognized together that Truth could push any error out of her experience, and quickly! She soaked every truth in like a dry sponge put to water.
After a couple of minutes, I could see a response in her face. Mom was patiently waiting for me to finish. I kissed her, gave her a big hug, and left the room confident that she was fine. Mom continued to read to her from Science and Health.
As I finished dinner in the kitchen, I rejoiced in knowing that she was spiritual and well as a child of God. A spiritual idea of God does not get sick or suffer. A spiritual idea of God is always healthy and well. My daughter was not susceptible to error influence, nor was she an unsuspecting or vulnerable mortal. She was immortal. Her spirituality was her immunity to illness, and since she was totally spiritual, not material, she could not suffer. I felt a great peace about her situation.
Ten minutes later, while I was setting the table, Jenna came bouncing out of her room into the kitchen and asked in her normal boisterous, full confident voice, “What’s for dinner?” I looked up a bit amazed, I must say, for she was a picture of health. I was not expecting her to eat dinner. But the ill Jenna I had seen in bed minutes previously was gone. She wanted to eat and then head off to chem lab at school. I quickly accepted the healing. We ate dinner, and all was fine.
Over the next few days, she started coughing. I didn’t pay much attention to it, at first, which was a mistake. But when I realized it was persistent and not yielding, I specifically addressed it with her one morning before she went to school. I told her to not accept the coughing as something to put up with or figure would go away in the future. It was error, and was not necessary. We decided together that it had no place in her experience as a healthy child of God and off to school she went. I never heard another cough.
As a parent, I’m so grateful for Christian Science. It gives us spiritual remedies we can put into practice instantly to help our children. And the side effects are so totally wholesome.
I was cooking dinner, so as soon as I settled cooking pots on the stove down long enough to leave, I went into her bedroom to see what was happening.
Jenna lay in bed under thick covers. I sat down at her side and rested my hand on her arm. She was burning up with a raging heat and complained of a horrendous headache. She rarely complains about anything, so for her to even mention a problem meant it was no little struggle.
As I listened for angel thoughts to share, I just loved her. I looked into her eyes and saw a beloved child of God. I reminded her of how loved she was. I reassured her of the healing presence of God that works to keep her well. I reminded her that God made her healthy and keeps her healthy. We recognized together that Truth could push any error out of her experience, and quickly! She soaked every truth in like a dry sponge put to water.
After a couple of minutes, I could see a response in her face. Mom was patiently waiting for me to finish. I kissed her, gave her a big hug, and left the room confident that she was fine. Mom continued to read to her from Science and Health.
As I finished dinner in the kitchen, I rejoiced in knowing that she was spiritual and well as a child of God. A spiritual idea of God does not get sick or suffer. A spiritual idea of God is always healthy and well. My daughter was not susceptible to error influence, nor was she an unsuspecting or vulnerable mortal. She was immortal. Her spirituality was her immunity to illness, and since she was totally spiritual, not material, she could not suffer. I felt a great peace about her situation.
Ten minutes later, while I was setting the table, Jenna came bouncing out of her room into the kitchen and asked in her normal boisterous, full confident voice, “What’s for dinner?” I looked up a bit amazed, I must say, for she was a picture of health. I was not expecting her to eat dinner. But the ill Jenna I had seen in bed minutes previously was gone. She wanted to eat and then head off to chem lab at school. I quickly accepted the healing. We ate dinner, and all was fine.
Over the next few days, she started coughing. I didn’t pay much attention to it, at first, which was a mistake. But when I realized it was persistent and not yielding, I specifically addressed it with her one morning before she went to school. I told her to not accept the coughing as something to put up with or figure would go away in the future. It was error, and was not necessary. We decided together that it had no place in her experience as a healthy child of God and off to school she went. I never heard another cough.
As a parent, I’m so grateful for Christian Science. It gives us spiritual remedies we can put into practice instantly to help our children. And the side effects are so totally wholesome.
Monday, March 10, 2008
All children are special
“Each child is special and unique in their own individual way!” I frequently remind myself when working with children.
In raising a son and a daughter with my wife, it has been a constant lesson for me to not see our kids in my likeness.
Let me ask you: If you are a parent, have there been times when you wanted your children to be like you in some form? I’ve had the desire more than once. But I’ve also learned that I get into trouble when I outline what activities my children should like to do or not do. I have to back off and remember that they are God’s likeness, not my likeness. Then they are free to find their niche, and everyone is happier.
I enjoyed the video clip, "Raising small souls," brought to my attention by a reader this morning. The short show reminded me of how unique and special are each of God’s children. But as I watched, I also realized there are qualities and attributes we all have in common—our spiritual heritage from God that includes a common denominator of divine Love.
God is the one infinite individuality that all of God’s offspring express. Each of our individual natures, as children of God, traces back to one spiritual nature in divine Love that unites us in one.
So, in as much as I may excel in piano, my son in trumpet, my daughter in swimming, and my wife in horticulture, we’re all still one in Love. The human distinctions are not important compared to the spiritual commonalities. And when we remember this truth, we see that we’re all alike in the most important ways—in God’s way—as image of Love. And what we are spiritually is all that matters in the Big Picture of Life.
In raising a son and a daughter with my wife, it has been a constant lesson for me to not see our kids in my likeness.
Let me ask you: If you are a parent, have there been times when you wanted your children to be like you in some form? I’ve had the desire more than once. But I’ve also learned that I get into trouble when I outline what activities my children should like to do or not do. I have to back off and remember that they are God’s likeness, not my likeness. Then they are free to find their niche, and everyone is happier.
I enjoyed the video clip, "Raising small souls," brought to my attention by a reader this morning. The short show reminded me of how unique and special are each of God’s children. But as I watched, I also realized there are qualities and attributes we all have in common—our spiritual heritage from God that includes a common denominator of divine Love.
God is the one infinite individuality that all of God’s offspring express. Each of our individual natures, as children of God, traces back to one spiritual nature in divine Love that unites us in one.
So, in as much as I may excel in piano, my son in trumpet, my daughter in swimming, and my wife in horticulture, we’re all still one in Love. The human distinctions are not important compared to the spiritual commonalities. And when we remember this truth, we see that we’re all alike in the most important ways—in God’s way—as image of Love. And what we are spiritually is all that matters in the Big Picture of Life.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
We cannot ignore those in need
With the recent killings at the mall in Omaha and the shooting sprees at two churches in Colorado, my heart searches for a solution to stop the mindless murders.
What appears more vivid than ever to me is the fact that we cannot ignore our neighbors in need. And by “neighbors in need,” I’m talking about those who are struggling with depression, despondency, hopelessness and despair.
In news about Robert Hawkins, who killed 8 before shooting himself in Omaha, Nebraska, reports said that “Hawkins was kicked out by his family about a year ago and moved in with a friend’s family…” The article title refers to Hawkins as a “depressed teen.” I’ve read similar reports about others who have gone on random shooting sprees.
Aren’t reports like this signs that we cannot ignore the downcast in our societies without repercussion?
For too long, perhaps those who prosper and move along in life with greater ease than others wrestling with internal demons and feelings of personal failure, thought they could keep on going without regard for their neighbors’ needs. This error is finally coming to a head as those feeling besieged react against the darkness their thinking is embroiled in with violent protest. They lose their sense of reason and rebel in ways that get people’s attention, even if the outcome is horrific. The more horrific, the greater chance of attention, the illogic goes.
How do we stop this?
I don’t think anger, hatred and malice in kind is going to help and heal. These mass shootings are a call on our humanity and spirituality to lift struggling souls out of their pits of despondency before they resort to extreme and hurtful actions.
I’ve always figured that people who lash out in hate are really saying, “Please love me. I need to feel some love in my life.”
Jesus said it well when he instructed, “Love your enemies.” I see this directive as a command to love the evil right out of those who would harm us before they can do harm.
We cannot walk on by those struggling in life and believe there will be no consequence. We are seeing in terrible ways, that there are consequences to allowing our children to drift morally and spiritually afar. They need a spiritual grounding to guide them and inspire them out of trouble when times get tough. They need someone to put loving arms around them, give them a comforting hug and let them know they are not alone. They need to know there is hope.
“Love your neighbor as yourself,” has never had more meaning and relevance than today.
We cannot walk on by our neighbors in need, especially our children, and leave them to their suffering. If we do, we risk a ricochet effect like what we’ve seen in Omaha and Colorado that bears unbearable consequences. We can avert these tragedies with love—much love. We can and we must share this love to save our civilization.
What appears more vivid than ever to me is the fact that we cannot ignore our neighbors in need. And by “neighbors in need,” I’m talking about those who are struggling with depression, despondency, hopelessness and despair.
In news about Robert Hawkins, who killed 8 before shooting himself in Omaha, Nebraska, reports said that “Hawkins was kicked out by his family about a year ago and moved in with a friend’s family…” The article title refers to Hawkins as a “depressed teen.” I’ve read similar reports about others who have gone on random shooting sprees.
Aren’t reports like this signs that we cannot ignore the downcast in our societies without repercussion?
For too long, perhaps those who prosper and move along in life with greater ease than others wrestling with internal demons and feelings of personal failure, thought they could keep on going without regard for their neighbors’ needs. This error is finally coming to a head as those feeling besieged react against the darkness their thinking is embroiled in with violent protest. They lose their sense of reason and rebel in ways that get people’s attention, even if the outcome is horrific. The more horrific, the greater chance of attention, the illogic goes.
How do we stop this?
I don’t think anger, hatred and malice in kind is going to help and heal. These mass shootings are a call on our humanity and spirituality to lift struggling souls out of their pits of despondency before they resort to extreme and hurtful actions.
I’ve always figured that people who lash out in hate are really saying, “Please love me. I need to feel some love in my life.”
Jesus said it well when he instructed, “Love your enemies.” I see this directive as a command to love the evil right out of those who would harm us before they can do harm.
We cannot walk on by those struggling in life and believe there will be no consequence. We are seeing in terrible ways, that there are consequences to allowing our children to drift morally and spiritually afar. They need a spiritual grounding to guide them and inspire them out of trouble when times get tough. They need someone to put loving arms around them, give them a comforting hug and let them know they are not alone. They need to know there is hope.
“Love your neighbor as yourself,” has never had more meaning and relevance than today.
We cannot walk on by our neighbors in need, especially our children, and leave them to their suffering. If we do, we risk a ricochet effect like what we’ve seen in Omaha and Colorado that bears unbearable consequences. We can avert these tragedies with love—much love. We can and we must share this love to save our civilization.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Acknowledge your blessings
Last weekend, my wife and I took our son to a large out-of-town tennis tournament for junior players. It was his first major event to participate in as a competitor, and we were all excited about the opportunity for him to play with other strong players from around the Pacific Northwest.
He did well, winning his first two matches, 6-4, 6-2, then 6-1, 6-1. He got trounced in the semi-finals by a far more experienced player who was also older and much bigger. But that was okay. We had reached our goal of gaining experience and playing the field to see what the competition was like.
The next day, I told a friend that I had spent part of the weekend watching my son compete in the tournament, and she replied, “How cool to be able to watch your son play tennis!” It was a simple statement, but stopped me dead in my mental tracks.
I hadn’t thought of being there in Ellensburg with Tyler as “way cool.” Yes, I was the one who encouraged him to participate in the first place. I was the one committed to getting him there and ensuring all went well. At the last minute, my wife was free to come too. And yes, I was excited about seeing him play. But I hadn’t thought in terms of “How cool…” I had seen the activity as just another part of raising children and living a family life.
But my friend was right. It was “cool!”
My friend had a different perspective. She was one longing for a family herself, and even children, and I had these things. So when she heard about the father/son activity, it was easy for her to see how special the experience was. I, as dad for fourteen years, had taken the privilege for granted.
I will not do that again! At least, to the best of my abilities… :-)
From that one simple observation of my friend, I have become more aware than ever to not take anything about our children’s growing up years for granted. It’s too precious. It happens once. Every activity they are involved in, every job they do, every assignment they complete, every smile they make, every idea they share, is cool! It’s the divine unfolding in their unique identities as children of God.
And what conscientious parent would want to miss out on even one of those special moments!
How cool...
He did well, winning his first two matches, 6-4, 6-2, then 6-1, 6-1. He got trounced in the semi-finals by a far more experienced player who was also older and much bigger. But that was okay. We had reached our goal of gaining experience and playing the field to see what the competition was like.
The next day, I told a friend that I had spent part of the weekend watching my son compete in the tournament, and she replied, “How cool to be able to watch your son play tennis!” It was a simple statement, but stopped me dead in my mental tracks.
I hadn’t thought of being there in Ellensburg with Tyler as “way cool.” Yes, I was the one who encouraged him to participate in the first place. I was the one committed to getting him there and ensuring all went well. At the last minute, my wife was free to come too. And yes, I was excited about seeing him play. But I hadn’t thought in terms of “How cool…” I had seen the activity as just another part of raising children and living a family life.
But my friend was right. It was “cool!”
My friend had a different perspective. She was one longing for a family herself, and even children, and I had these things. So when she heard about the father/son activity, it was easy for her to see how special the experience was. I, as dad for fourteen years, had taken the privilege for granted.
I will not do that again! At least, to the best of my abilities… :-)
From that one simple observation of my friend, I have become more aware than ever to not take anything about our children’s growing up years for granted. It’s too precious. It happens once. Every activity they are involved in, every job they do, every assignment they complete, every smile they make, every idea they share, is cool! It’s the divine unfolding in their unique identities as children of God.
And what conscientious parent would want to miss out on even one of those special moments!
How cool...
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Giving praise
Found an interesting web page on the value of praising children for work well done. This paragraph caught my eye on the importance of not qualifying your words of support, but ensuring they ring with sincerity:
Children thrive on love and genuine affection. Love IS Life, after all, so why wouldn’t they!
We all thrive on love—giving it and receiving it. But love hedged about with qualification loses its appeal and doesn’t feel like love anymore.
We can do everyone a service, ourselves included, by offering praise that is genuine and sincere.
There is a freedom to be gained when we can drop the “only ifs…” and abundantly pour praise on acts and words worthy of commendation without feeling a need to stick a knife in somewhere and turn it a bit out of resentment.
From the Lord’s prayer, with it’s spiritual interpretation from Science and Health:
Thanksgiving Day is a timely reminder to give thanks for all of our blessings.
Children are a blessing. Friends are a blessing. Neighbors are a blessing. Life is a blessing. The ability to love unselfishly and unconditionally is a blessing.
Let us give thanks in abundance this holiday, pour it out freely to all those around us, and feel the joy that comes from praising other’s good deeds without issuing an accompanying qualification.
May our praise be praiseworthy!
Avoid giving praise with a sting in the tail. This sort of praise starts off well but ends with an implied criticism that wipes away the positive comment. For example, try not to say: “Rory, well done for making your bed - shame you don’t do it everyday” or “Lily, you shared your toy so nicely - what a pity you hit May with it yesterday".Have you ever heard the rule, “It takes ten praises to outweigh the harm that comes from a single criticism?”
Children thrive on love and genuine affection. Love IS Life, after all, so why wouldn’t they!
We all thrive on love—giving it and receiving it. But love hedged about with qualification loses its appeal and doesn’t feel like love anymore.
We can do everyone a service, ourselves included, by offering praise that is genuine and sincere.
There is a freedom to be gained when we can drop the “only ifs…” and abundantly pour praise on acts and words worthy of commendation without feeling a need to stick a knife in somewhere and turn it a bit out of resentment.
From the Lord’s prayer, with it’s spiritual interpretation from Science and Health:
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And Love is reflected in love; Mary Baker Eddy
Thanksgiving Day is a timely reminder to give thanks for all of our blessings.
Children are a blessing. Friends are a blessing. Neighbors are a blessing. Life is a blessing. The ability to love unselfishly and unconditionally is a blessing.
Let us give thanks in abundance this holiday, pour it out freely to all those around us, and feel the joy that comes from praising other’s good deeds without issuing an accompanying qualification.
May our praise be praiseworthy!
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Raising children
Isn’t it a joy raising children? My wife and I love our son and daughter, 12 and 15, now. They are growing up too fast for me. I enjoy having them around the house, watching them learn in school, see them develop new skills, and having the opportunity to guide them morally and spiritually around the temptations of the world. As they grow, I grow, and as I grow, they grow.
There have been challenging times in knowing the right thing to do with the children. But each time I remind myself that God created each young one in His/Her own image and likeness. Each child is whole and perfect just the way they were divinely conceived. My role as a parent is to bear witness to God’s unique creation unfolding within our family and to remember that all the ingredients for a happy healthy child are built into a child’s individuality. We are to see what God put there originally and let it activate in the context of a loving and supportive home environment.
Raising children is raising consciousness--raising consciousness to the spiritual truth about each child.
I learned early on I didn’t have to form and shape our children. They were already formed and shaped spiritually. Like a tightly closed rosebud, all the ingredients for a beautiful rose are contained within the bud. We cannot force the bud open and human will a rose. We have to let that bud open according to the laws of nature and let it unfold in its own unique special way.
Children are like rosebuds. The good and intelligence is all there!
When some needed quality appears to be lacking in a child, we pray to see what God put there to begin with, and it becomes more evident to us.
Raising children is raising consciousness—raising thought to the truth about God’s child. In Truth, we find the perfect one of God’s creating. And what a joy it is to welcome into the family.
There have been challenging times in knowing the right thing to do with the children. But each time I remind myself that God created each young one in His/Her own image and likeness. Each child is whole and perfect just the way they were divinely conceived. My role as a parent is to bear witness to God’s unique creation unfolding within our family and to remember that all the ingredients for a happy healthy child are built into a child’s individuality. We are to see what God put there originally and let it activate in the context of a loving and supportive home environment.
Raising children is raising consciousness--raising consciousness to the spiritual truth about each child.
I learned early on I didn’t have to form and shape our children. They were already formed and shaped spiritually. Like a tightly closed rosebud, all the ingredients for a beautiful rose are contained within the bud. We cannot force the bud open and human will a rose. We have to let that bud open according to the laws of nature and let it unfold in its own unique special way.
Children are like rosebuds. The good and intelligence is all there!
When some needed quality appears to be lacking in a child, we pray to see what God put there to begin with, and it becomes more evident to us.
Raising children is raising consciousness—raising thought to the truth about God’s child. In Truth, we find the perfect one of God’s creating. And what a joy it is to welcome into the family.
