Hi Mom, just wanted to let you know we've had a good demonstration." Our 20 year old son, JamesTyler was calling. My husband and I were on our way to a dinner for our oldest daughter at her high school when he called. We were about an hour from home and our son was taking care of our four younger children.
He had picked up the two youngest children from their bus after school and was waiting for the Middle School bus to arrive. Our youngest son, Robin, was playing with some friends who were also waiting for the second bus. He fell face first on the sidewalk while playing tag and broke his two front teeth and bit through his bottom lip. The bus had just arrived with the Middle Schoolers and parents were picking up their children. Our youngest daughter called for JamesTyler to come help. Robin, was laying on the ground, bleeding and a crowd had formed. Robin was crying, mostly because he was surprised and fearful, and some of the other children started to cry concerned for their friend and brother.
JamesTyler sat down with him to comfort him while one of his sisters went to get some napkins to help him get cleaned up. JamesTyler reminded Robin that God was already there, and he was safe. The crowd was very supportive. Robin's big brother scooped him up and took him to the car with the his other brother and sisters. He had become calm and they were making jokes and Robin was laughing, letting go of any fear or concern. He had even brought home the broken tooth he found on the ground.
When they got home, they gave us a call. Everyone was calm and joyful and grateful. We asked if we should come right home, but they all answered no and assured us that everything was fine. When we spoke to Robin, he said in a cheery voice, "Hey, Mom, did you know your teeth are in layers?" He had obviously moved on to a cooler subject. His attitude made me smile and reminded me to let go as well.
My first thought was to turn around and go home so I, the Mother, could take care of him. I knew it would disappoint our daughter who was waiting for us, but I also knew she would understand. I am normally a calm person, but I found myself fighting off reactive emotions and thinking, “My baby!” Then I reminded myself that God was already there with him. God, his Father-Mother-God. I knew God was attending to every one of Robin's needs. Robin had already proven that he was receptive to that care and had turned to God for comfort and received it. All the children, big and small, were confident in God's care and were sharing ideas with each other in support of that.
Some of the ideas they shared with Robin were that he could never fall out of God's care. That he was always safe and protected in God's love. They also found comfort in the Lord’s Prayer. Knowing the comfort these ideas brought him, Robin was able to immediately let go of any fear or shock from the fall and any pain associated with it. He had no swelling or bruising and no trauma.
The children had learned at a very early age that God was their Father-Mother and that God's love and guidance gave them a strength on which to rely. They have seen many healings in our home and proofs of God's care, so it is natural for them to turn to God. Facing down fear, the children remarked that the blood on the napkin looked like paint and they were not impressed by the show of color. The rest of the night was calm and joyful for all of us. They all ate pizza for dinner, and later, Robin also had his favorite snack, popcorn.
I had left a message with the dentist that night so that we could take Robin in as soon as possible the next morning. The dentist made room for him very quickly repairing his chipped tooth and his half tooth, and Robin's smile looked good as new. Robin was great in the dentist's chair. They were laughing and joking even though there was a great deal of work needing to be done. I had become concerned while waiting for the dentist to finish, when I heard Robin say, in his best Scottish brogue imitation, “What’s wrong with you man, I can’t feel my nose!” I had to laugh at Robin’s outburst and the mesmerism fear was trying to have over me. I saw that outburst as God’s way of having a child show me I still needed to let go and trust God’s continued care! I acknowledged that God had not gone anywhere!
When we left the dentist’s office, it was lunchtime and Robin was hungry. He wanted a hamburger and a shake. I was thinking more along the lines of yogurt or applesauce and crackers. That was unacceptable to a hungry boy. I realized I needed to be sure I was again, not letting fear persuade my decisions and couching itself as “motherly wisdom”. So I listened to what I call God’s Angel messages for direction. What I heard was that it would be alright and I didn’t have to worry. We drove through Hardy’s and he heartily ate with no pain to his mouth or damage to the new work, and grinning from ear to ear.
I gave thanks to my Father-Mother for continuing to guide my thoughts, words and actions as I reflect the qualities of parenting. I also gave thanks for the humility to listen and not let human will get into an argument.
Robin was a real trooper that day and he is so thoughtful about caring for his front teeth.
I found myself using the children's example of faith, trust, humility and joy to overcome pangs of anxiety and fear for my child. Every now and then sadness for the situation came to me and I realized that my sense of perfection was being challenged. I was tempted to believe that somehow Robin was broken, hurt, abandoned and only if I could see perfection physically, was it true.
I woke up my thought to that temptation and claimed the truth about him immediately. Perfection isn’t bound by materiality, time, distance or any other human concept. It is the reflection of Spirit, God, manifested in us, physically, mentally and morally. It is Soul, the expression of the qualities of our identity as a child of God.
The immediate support our children gave each other came from truths they had learned from their parents at home, teaching them about their close relationship with God, as described in the Bible and the writings of Mary Baker Eddy. They also attend the Christian Science Church and Sunday School where they learn and share with others how to live the ideas they are understanding and demonstrating every day. Lessons from Moses, the prophets, Christ Jesus, The Book of Psalms, and many other examples in the Bible give them reliance and strength and comfort that they turn to in need.
In Science and Health, Mary Baker Eddy writes on page 62, “The entire education of children should be such as to form habits of obedience to the moral and spiritual law, with which the child can meet and master the belief in so-called physical laws, a belief which breeds disease.”
I was so grateful for JamesTyler’s calm, clear thought. As he went over to help Robin, he walked with God, listening for those Angel messages that would tell him how to mentally approach the situation. It set the tone for all his brothers and sisters that were with him and even some of the parents and children that were concerned.
This opportunity was for the glory of God! It serves as a reminder that we can all turn to God every moment to help us with everything. God is Love, and God loves all of us!
