Some time ago I was suffering from what appeared to be a hopeless case of dropsy. A Christian Science practitioner was called upon and gave much time, with love unlimited, to help me see that our primary concern is not to heal a sick body, but rather to replace a misconception about man with the truth of his necessary perfection as the image and likeness of God. A quotation from "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy was very helpful. It can be found on page 14 and reads, "Entirely separate from the belief and dream of material living, is the Life divine, revealing spiritual understanding and the consciousness of man's dominion over the whole earth."
I had to reject the aggressive mental suggestion that man dwells in a material body and to see him as God created him, a spiritual idea, the immortal expression of the one infinite God, good. I saw that this is not only true of myself, but is also true of all men.
Regardless of what mortal mind was trying to make me believe, I felt God's presence and knew that I, as actually God's reflection, had the authority to exercise dominion over all material suggestions. I could not move without help and was afraid of being alone, but I gained a conviction of God's presence which sustained me. Several times I seemed to be passing on, but with the continued help of the practitioner and my own prayers I came through each crisis.
