Bride and Bridegroom

Whether married or unmarried, you can be a complete, cared-for, sufficient, fully-supported person right now.

If you don't feel that way, would you like to do something about it? Because you can do something. And you don't even have to wait for someone else to act or do something for you.

Do you, for example, want to be a bride? Then be one! No one can stop you.

In the Glossary of the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy, "bride" is defined: "Purity and innocence, conceiving man in the idea of God; a sense of Soul, which has spiritual bliss and enjoys but cannot suffer." ^{Science and Health, p. 582;}

Do you wish you could be a bridegroom? Be one! And be glad you don't have to postpone the happy day.

In the same Glossary, same page, "bridegroom" is defined: "Spiritual understanding; the pure consciousness that God, the divine Principle, creates man as His own spiritual idea, and that God is the only creative power."

As you learn to warmly accept your identity as both bride and bridegroom, you realize that your totality, your fulfillment, is intact in God. This is true whether you are married or unmarried.

Christian Science refers to God as both Father and Mother. God's being is not fragmented by male and female separation. God is complete, and so are we. In the spiritual account of creation, which appears in the first chapter of Genesis, the Bible tells us, "God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." ^{Gen. 1:27;} By this we can see why Christ Jesus had such a wonderful combination of masculine power and feminine tenderness.

Our manhood and womanhood, then, do not depend on some narrow sexual identification but on our being the image of God, both male and female. Each one of us can enjoy being the spiritual child of God; being the expression of God's qualities, which are both masculine and feminine; being both bride and bridegroom. In human experience, this helps us to be the best man or woman we could possibly be. And we can have a continuous wedding day.

For example, a young woman I know was upset when her boyfriend unexpectedly married someone else. She is a Christian Scientist, so she prayed. She prayed to understand that as a child of God she was complete and joyous. But she still felt a deep sense of loss.

A friend recommended that she study the masculine qualities of God and claim them as her own—not dependent on another person. These could include strength, stability, a strong purpose, and fearlessness.

The young woman realized that it was as important for her as it is for a man to know that such masculine qualities are natural. They belong to everyone in the image of our Father-Mother God.

Still the young woman felt deprived. She had, in fact, always expressed a high degree of independence. She had developed a satisfying career and displayed unusual organizational and administrative talent—"masculinity," if you will.

"I want to feel more like a woman," she caught herself saying one day. That was it! She recognized her tendency to think that having a man around made her feel feminine.

She suddenly realized that she didn't have to wait any longer to feel cared for, gentle, compassionate, and relaxed. These characteristics, too, are natural to everyone who is aware of being the image of our Father-Mother God.

The young woman began to read daily the Christian Science definition of "bride"—thinking about it, recognizing that it was part of her identity. Soon she discovered that "feminine" qualities even increased her effectiveness in a profession which is widely regarded as masculine and aggressive. And her deep hurt and sense of loss vanished.

In the chapter on Marriage in Science and Health, Mrs. Eddy reveals her compassionate view of marriage and the fulfilling of the affections. "There should be the most tender solicitude for each other's happiness, and mutual attention and approbation should wait on all the years of married life." ^{Science and Health, p. 59.} Marriage can be enriched by each partner's understanding of spiritual, God-given completeness. Each can learn to depend less on the other for happiness and more on God. Then each can share spiritual joy and well-being with his spouse.

Unmarried men and women, as well as each partner in a marriage, can establish themselves as both thoughtful homemakers and successful providers—knowing that their abilities are God-derived. No opportunity to express our masculine-feminine completeness as God's image needs to be postponed.

Are you a bride? Of course. And a bridegroom? Absolutely. Even if you're unmarried? No doubt. Or married? Still true.

Claim this truth now. Know it—and enjoy it.