The practical effectiveness of Christian Science has been proved by our family over the years. One specific incident really brought home the fact to us that because we are truly governed by God, we can never be victimized by unfavorable circumstances.
Mrs. Eddy writes in Science and Health (p. 199), "The devotion of thought to an honest achievement makes the achievement possible." This statement was helpful to my daughter and me when she was an active participant in both regional and national tennis tournaments. During my daughter's senior year in high school, we began to visit a number of college campuses. There were many excellent opportunities for full athletic scholarships available to young women. The task of being interviewed by admissions directors, coaches, and athletic administrators soon became overwhelming. Choices needed to be made, not only by student athletes but by the universities that were looking for qualified candidates.
We soon realized that what was most needed on our part was earnest prayer. First, we considered the qualities that a tennis coach might desire in a player. These included honesty, the ability to execute proper strokes, a sense of cooperation with fellow team members, and a capacity for absorbing instruction. We then realized that it was natural to express these qualities. All we needed to do was to acknowledge the allness and goodness of God, from whom we derive the capacity to perform. We affirmed that in reality man is the pure and perfect expression of God, lacking nothing.
