Mrs. Eddy tells us (Science and Health, p. 471), "Man is, and forever has been, God's reflection." This was demonstrated by my mother when I was a teenager. My early years were clouded with anxiety concerning Mother's health. She had gone from one physician to another and had had several operations. I seemed to follow the same pattern of insecure health, depending on material medicine.
Mother's extremity brought her to depend upon God for healing. She had been ill in bed for several days. One Sunday morning she decided to rouse herself and go to church, as had been her habit through the years. She walked to the streetcar with effort and sat down behind two women who were radiating joy and happiness. Mother was curious and a bit envious of their freedom and happiness because she was so imprisoned in pain. They rose to leave, just as Mother did. Although she was prepared to attend her own church, she was impelled to follow the two women. This she did, right into a branch Church of Christ, Scientist. After the service Mother left the church, freer and happier for the first time in her long search for help. She accepted what she had heard in the church service and began the study of Christian Science. When she applied what she was receiving, her healing was complete. My father caught the interest, noted the change in the family, and began reading Science and Health out of curiosity. Before he had finished, he was healed of a longtime habit of smoking. I lost my fear and enjoyed new freedom.
A few years after my marriage I was left with two small children to support. At the time I had not been trained for work. I held a vivid picture of my mother calling me to her and telling me to remember her favorite Bible verse (Ps. 51:10), "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." Though I had always depended on her, and later on others, to help me out of problems as I was growing up, I knew the time had come to stand alone with God for my answers. Self-discipline was the most important lesson I had to learn. Discipline to control the misconceptions handed down from the world of mortality—all limiting beliefs that were trying to control me. I clung to Mrs. Eddy's statement (Science and Health, p. 254), "Pilgrim on earth, thy home is heaven; stranger, thou art the guest of God." Each time there was a need, I was supplied with home and care for my children.
