{"id":2366,"date":"2014-01-07T08:44:23","date_gmt":"2014-01-07T13:44:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/everydayspirituality\/?p=2366"},"modified":"2014-01-07T07:56:18","modified_gmt":"2014-01-07T12:56:18","slug":"babies-can-surprise-us","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/everydayspirituality\/2014\/01\/babies-can-surprise-us.html","title":{"rendered":"Babies can surprise us"},"content":{"rendered":"

Six or eight years ago, the time unimportant, our daughter was born. Ah, it was a special time. She came early in the morning on Christmas Eve. It was a bit of a surprise because the estimated birth date was set for later. Estimates can be a bane or blessing, depending on how you look at it.<\/p>\n

There was no bane in this case. I clearly remember recalling the nativity story of Jesus\u2019 birth as a promise fulfilled.<\/p>\n

Time folded in the presence of an eternal God who made everything good. The job was finished, yet it continues on.<\/p>\n

The blessing was a quick birth, a return home before noon, and the strength to attend the family Christmas Eve gathering that evening. The extended family was delighted to see the new baby and be the first to bear gifts.<\/p>\n

I always tease this daughter that she was one never to miss a party. She isn\u2019t that interested in gifts, but it tickles her to be with her aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, and anyone else that comes along for the family gatherings.<\/p>\n

Two days ago, this very daughter birthed her own daughter. Hmmm, I may be older than I think here as far as being a mom, since now I am a grandmother, Yiieee, that is the first time I typed that\u2026<\/p>\n

\"first<\/a>Anyway, our granddaughter, taking after her mom, surprised us all.\u00a0 Except great-grandpa.<\/p>\n

For the past few months, great-grandpa has been telling others that a new great-grandbaby will be born in January. People just nodded and smiled as if he forgot the estimated due date<\/a>, in February.<\/p>\n

Again, I felt the impact of time folding. We shouldn’t be so quick to ignore new ideas<\/a>.<\/p>\n

I realized, too often it feels as though my spiritual progress is slow, however, spiritual ideas are being born all the time. Big time.<\/p>\n

We can act on the birth of new\/old ideas about God as Truth. We can manifest enlightened thought. We can experience the life of God, good. Spirit is our life.<\/p>\n

From \u00a021st<\/sup> Century Science and Health,<\/i> \u201cConsciousness is guided to \u201cwhere the child was\u201d[1]<\/b><\/a>\u2014even to the birth of a new-old idea, to the spiritual sense of being and of what Life includes. Thus the whole earth will be transformed by Truth as enlightened thought displaces the darkness of error.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe underpinnings in the temple of Christian Science are to be found in the following postulates: that Life is God, good, and not evil; that Soul is sinless, not to be found in the body; that Spirit is not, and cannot be, humanized; that Life is not at risk to death; that the spiritual real person of God has no birth, no temporal life, and no death.<\/p>\n

\u201cEarth has little light or joy before Life is spiritually learned. Every agony of mortal error helps error to destroy error and actually helps us perceive immortal Truth. This is the new birth going on hourly, by which human beings may entertain angels, the true ideas of God, the spiritual sense of being.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n

[1]<\/b><\/a> Matt. 2:9<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Six or eight years ago, the time unimportant, our daughter was born. Ah, it was a special time. She came early in the morning on Christmas Eve. It was a bit of a surprise because the estimated birth date was set for later. 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