By Dr. Heather Clark
We have special days to keep the commandment to “honor your mother and father.” If your biological parents raised you and are still with you, Mothers’ Day and Fathers’ Day can be very special: you have an opportunity to honor, accompany, and shower your parents with love. (I realize that you could ignore the day and/or treat it superficially. But I don’t think readers of this blog do such things.) You make the day special by planning the food you will share, perhaps giving a gift, and going out of your way to let him or her know how much you love, honor and respect them. You let them know how grateful you are for them. Mothers’ Day and Fathers’ Day can have real meaning.
If you are a mother or a father, you probably have tender memories of being with your children. Some memories will bring a rush of emotion. One of my friends says that when she first saw her son, she fell deeply in love. Other memories may bring a chuckle or a smile. Yes, I know that there were also disappointments, frustration or anger.
Our parents were our first teachers. They taught us how to live, socialize, and be in the world. It is said that a good parent helps their children develop roots and wings. Roots, so they know who they are and where they came from. And wings, so they trust themselves to leave the nest and move into adulthood as successful adults.
What we know through the study of the Science of Mind, is what really determines how happy and successful we are in life – it is our deeply held beliefs about ourselves: who do we think we are! We come to realize that our consciousness determines our health, wealth, creativity and relationships.
That consciousness is in fact the totality of our beliefs about who and what we are. The Law of Mind is literally listening to your self-assessment and bringing it into form.
We could think of it as being an inner father and mother. The inner mother guides us to choose from principles that are life-affirming, positive and loving. She nurtures us, wraps her loving arms around us and whispers encouragement and well-being. We can think of her as an inner cheer leader. Our inner father is another name for the Law of Mind. As the master teacher Jesus told us about his miracles, not he but it was “the Father within that does the work.”
What if we had a special day to honor our inner mother and father? What could we commit to do to honor them? We could do it more than once a year!
Here is a suggestion: First, plan to honor them as part of your spiritual practice. Create a calm environment in which you won’t be distracted – soft lighting, pets are elsewhere, do some deep breathing to be fully present music perhaps music. You could start with a poem, song or chant that reminds you of your true spiritual nature. I recommend Melissa Phillippe’s song, “Tender Yes.” The lyrics are:
“As I say a tender ‘yes’
To everything that comes to me
My heart is open, I am free.
I open to all that is,
It brings me to my knees.
I surrender; I am Peace.”
Both this song, which honors the Inner Mother, and the one to honor the Inner Father, should be chanted several times.
We have an Inner Mother and an inner Father! Your Inner Mother is the aspect of Self who nurtures and applauds you. She is kind, gentle and beautiful. She is totally accepting of all that is.
Louise Hay tells a story about herself learning to be a public speaker, She would say, “ Louise, that was pretty good and next time you will be even better!”
Your Inner Father is the part of the divine Mind that manifests form. In other words your Inner Father is the Mirror of Mind, always acting on your behalf to make your dreams a reality.
A great song to remind you of your infinite nature by Rickie Byars Beckwith is “In the Land of I Am, I Am.”
“In the Land of I Am, I am
More than I have been; I am.
More than I will be; I am,
All that I am.”
When you have praised and applauded your Inner Father and Mother, fill your heart with deep gratitude. You are greatly blessed. You know, what you know and all is well and all shall be well.
Then consider all your blessings. There is so much to be grateful for. And so it is.
