One Saturday I asked a Christian Science practitioner to help me through Christian Science treatment to destroy a severe case of influenza. By the following Monday there was very little physical improvement, but it was essential for me to be in the office to take over a new department and handle many items requiring immediate attention. Mortal mind insisted I had too much weakness and pain to go out in the snow, but the Lesson-Sermon in the Christian Science Quarterly for that week plainly stated that God was my strength and that I should trust in Him (Ps.18:1,2): "I will love thee, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust."
I saw clearly that a choice had to be made between two opposites. I could either bow down and worship mortal mind like a pagan idolater and reap discord, or I could honor God, divine Love, and trust in His ever-presence and reap harmony. I chose the latter and staggered out to the office. On approaching my place of work, I felt a sudden surge of strength flow through my body, and it sustained me during the eleven-hour working day. I was able to accomplish everything needed, and from then on the illness lessened, until by the end of the week every symptom of it had vanished.
My trust in God and the faithful work of the practitioner brought about this healing. Pointing out that courage gives strength, the practitioner drew my attention to the following statement from Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy concerning helpful encouragement of sick people (p. 417): "Always support their trust in the power of Mind to sustain the body. Never tell the sick that they have more courage than strength. Tell them rather, that their strength is in proportion to their courage."
