One perfect twig at a time
Many years ago, I was a single mom with a small child, a big house, a full-time job, and an ongoing fear that I could never get everything done.
Then I met a couple of Christian Scientists. They were always calm, cheerful, and uncomplaining. I felt safe in their presence. After a while I thought, “These people know something, and I want to know what that something is.”
They told me that Christian Science invites me to understand that God is not a white-bearded man on a cloud who, if I’m lucky, sometimes looks my way. Instead, He is an ever-present, loving intelligence, here to tenderly guide every minute of every day. My friends said if I would quiet my thought and listen, I could hear what wise, practical footsteps I should take and I could feel comforted by God’s grace.
This was very good news to me, as I would often lose sleep making long to-do lists that I was certain I could not finish. But as I learned to pray in this listening way, helpful ideas began to come. Gradually, I found I was feeling less anxious about many things.
I was also becoming much encouraged by ideas found in the Christian Science textbook, “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” by Mary Baker Eddy. For example: “God is Love. Can we ask Him to be more? God is intelligence. Can we inform the infinite Mind of anything He does not already comprehend? Do we expect to change perfection? Shall we plead for more at the open fount, which is pouring forth more than we accept?” (p. 2).
Knowing that God’s love is abundant and easily available to everyone because we are His sons and daughters, made in His image, is very reassuring when we’re feeling threatened by the many demands of each day. As I began to understand more about God as an ever-present guardian, I soon saw that divine Love was evident in so many things that made up my world.
For example, one day I was watching a bird build a nest. Different species build nests that specifically meet their individual needs. It made me smile to realize that a tiny sparrow was never expected to build an enormous eagle’s nest. I saw how the bird selected one perfect twig at a time and knew exactly the best place to put it. As I watched, I felt that I was seeing a hint of God’s loving intelligence, gently and efficiently governing His universe.
Just as the bird instinctively knew better than to try to bring a whole pile of twigs to the nest all at once, I happily saw that my to-do list items could be handled one at a time, in a divinely ordered, precise sequence. As I trusted God to care for me, it became easier to hear better ways to get things done.
Then, just as my son was finishing grade school, my widowed mom came to live with us. This welcome arrangement provided many blessings for us all.
Although there were challenges and trials along the way, I learned that God is always with me to provide instruction, comfort, and guidance. These days, I no longer have the home or the home duties that I once had. But present household demands are met easily. I have continued to trust God to inspire every day, and my home is peaceful, orderly, joyful, and safe.
An encouraging Bible verse, Psalms 138:8, promises: “The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever.”
The nest-building showed me how natural it is to expect God to lovingly care for every detail of His creation, one perfect twig – and step – along the way.
