Three days before Christmas 1968 our home was severely damaged by fire. (As I plugged in the lights on the Christmas tree, the whole thing burst into flames.) I suffered burns on my hands and face. That night I was unable to sleep, but hymns from the Christian Science Hymnal flooded my thoughts continually—especially Hymn No. 207, titled "Mother's Evening Prayer," with words by Mary Baker Eddy. Part of the first verse reads, "O gentle presence, peace and joy and power." I knew that because God is the only power and presence, there is no room for anything unlike God, good.
Also "the scientific statement of being," on page 468 in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mrs. Eddy, was very comforting. The opening sentences assure us: "There is no life, truth, intelligence, nor substance in matter. All is infinite Mind and its infinite manifestation, for God is All-in-all." From this I realized our true home could never be damaged or destroyed.
I rose the next morning feeling fully rested. Then the story of the three Hebrew men who were cast into the fiery furnace, but who walked out unhurt (see Dan. 3:12-27) came to me, filling my thoughts with so much gratitude that there was no room for sadness. I was grateful that my two daughters and the friends who had brought us home from church that day had not been hurt in any way. The burns completely healed in two weeks, leaving no scars, and I lost no time from work. Because of the quick and loving help from everyone, including the prayers of a Christian Science practitioner, we all enjoyed a very happy Christmas. Also, we were able to completely restore our home in a very short time. Not a trace of the fire was left, and several of the improvements which were made, the insurance company insisted on paying for.
