family – Page 2 – Spirituality & Healing

Divine love can dissolve past hurt

Published on December 18, 2015December 18, 2015 by lindseybiggs4 Comments

Family gatherings can be difficult times for many. How do you feel a sense of God’s presence and love during the holidays? God is the Source of each one’s individuality, so we can all know — spiritually discern — that we are each loved equally despite what may have gone on before.

Pure humanity, friendship, home, the interchange of love, bring to earth a foretaste of heaven.¹

Our identity, feeling worthy and loved doesn’t actually come from other people, although sometimes friends and family can beautifully reflect how worthy, lovely and lovable we all are. These expressions of joy and appreciation are natural and normal and are signs of God, divine Love’s, kingdom on earth.

Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.²

Relationships are a good opportunity to dissolve what Mary Baker Eddy calls the “adamant of error”: self-will, self-justification and self-love³ ; the old adage “my way or the highway” mentality; self-righteousness, which wreaks havoc on all of us; then of course there’s just plain old judgement.

Christ Jesus was the perfect example of living and expressing spiritual love.

After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you…Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.⁴

God will bless you for doing them! God will bless you for putting off old resentments. God will bless you for being humble enough to be made new — in the likeness of God!

You deserve to express divine Love — not hold on to the past or limited views of others (that God is not knowing about them). Self-hatred is what makes us feel we are not worthy or loved enough to let go of hatred towards others! We are worth it! Let it go.

Spiritual living and blessedness are the only evidences, by which we can recognize true existence and feel the unspeakable peace which comes from an all-absorbing spiritual love. ⁵

^________

^{1 Mary Baker Eddy, Miscellaneous Writings 1883-1896, p. 100

2 Matthew 6:10 The Holy Bible New Revised Standard Version}
^{3 Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 242}
^{4 John 13 The Holy Bible New Living Translation

^{5 Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 264}}

Liking v. Loving

Published on January 8, 2013January 7, 2013 by lindseybiggs1 Comment

I had the wonderful realization last night that I don’t have to like everyone, but I do get the privilege and have the ability to love everyone. While it might seem easier to love the people that we like, Jesus shows us how to go deeper.

He said, “By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35)

This makes me think of Jesus disciples being in one big love fest where everyone gets along and no one has any conflict. However, we have evidence in the Bible that some disciples found it hard to get along. I like to think that even if we don’t like someone we can still have the humility and unselfishness to work together, as Jesus’ disciples did. And we have the spiritual understanding to know that each individual is made in the loving image of God.

In a way, this way of loving each other is a lot simpler than trying to get human personalities to blend. It goes straight to the divine, to the Truth and spiritual state of things. It frees me from even wasting time trying to get human personalities to match up when I can go right to the true idea and get to know each one as the son and daughter of God.

A gratitude attitude & my grandparents

Published on October 8, 2012 by lindseybiggsLeave a comment

I find thinking of others and feeling grateful so healing.

I’ve been thinking of my grandparents recently. They are moving to a senior community tomorrow about a half hour away from their current home. My aunt has been so kind in finding a place for them, making the arrangements and taking care of the move.

I admire and am so grateful for the way my family looks out for one another. This move affects all of us particularly because “Grandma’s house” has been the place that our family has congregated since I was a child. Over the past several years, though, we have all seen how much upkeep a large house takes and that all of the “stuff” they have accumulated or saved for us isn’t really necessary for any of us. I’m grateful for the freedom they will find in their new apartment, and for the community and activity they will get to enjoy.

I’m trusting in God that there can’t be any loss from their move. For example, we have other relatives homes where we can all get together for the holidays. I know that God prepares a place and makes radiant room for each of us. God takes care of all the details. Trusting all the accommodations to God leaves my family in the prime position of witnessing God’s love and blessings for all of us, without stress or worry.

As I mentioned in the beginning, being grateful and thinking of others is healing. As I focus my thought more on my family, the world and other loved ones, I become more grateful – more aware of good. These thoughts naturally bless my home, family, body, and experience. These are just the wonderful side-effects – or spiritual law – of thinking of others and feeling grateful.

So, if you’re feeling down today, open your thought to gratitude. It is sure to brighten your day.

By the way, Happy Canadian Thanksgiving Day!