Seeing the Truth
By Lynda Hadley
For many years I held a grievance toward my son-in-law. I won’t go into all the egoic reasons other than I saw him as responsible for causing stress and anxiety in my daughter that had never appeared until they got together in their teenage years.
After they were married, I attempted to overcome my opinion of Jon. His satiric style bordered on cruel in my opinion. I saw his intelligence and his abilities as remarkable. But I still held him responsible for my daughter’s emotional suffering.
One Sunday afternoon after their first son was born, I travelled to visit them after church. In the 45 minutes it took to travel there, I prayed on “seeing” Jon in Truth. After all, I was “determined to see the Truth”. “Holy Spirit show me the Truth!”
I didn’t announce that I would visit because I was nearby, and it was normal for me to come over to their place on Sundays. Jon was upstairs in his study playing video games. My daughter and I chatted downstairs in the kitchen. The “baby monitor” on the kitchen counter signaled my grandson was waking up from his afternoon nap. I started to respond when my daughter said, “Jon is in his study. He’ll take care of it.”
I heard the nursery door open and a style of voice I’d never heard before said, “Hi there little guy! Is it time to wake up?” As I listened to this new voice, the baby’s laughter along with the sweet, tender way his father changed his diaper while tickling and amusing him, my whole perception of my son-in-law switched 180 degrees.
Suddenly, all the grievances melted away. Jonathan didn’t change. I did. If there were any characteristics I would choose for the husband of my daughter and the father of my grandson, were there any more valuable than what I just heard?
These many years later, Jonathan still makes critical, satirical comments. But it doesn’t affect my love for him. I see the Truth of a loving husband and devoted father. I see the true nature of his being. I love him and I know he loves me.
That’s all we ever want, need or could possibly desire. To love and be loved is the knowledge we are here to acquire.
Your brother may not know who he is, but there is a light in his mind which does know. This light can shine into yours, making his words true and your mind able to hear them. [CE T-9.II.6:1-2]
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Or you may be interested in delving deeper into A Course in Miracles.