When our daughter was about sixteen months old, she woke from an afternoon nap feverish and not feeling well. I comforted her and began praying to understand her spiritual perfection as God's child.
Toward late afternoon she had a convulsion. I was totally unprepared for such a turn of events and was gripped with great fear.
I immediately tried to call a Christian Science practitioner, but I had difficulty reaching anyone at the office or at home. When I finally did speak to a practitioner, my fear had grown to the point that I could barely talk. The practitioner immediately began praying and assured me that I could care for my child. I began to understand that fear and love, like the tares and wheat that appeared to grow together, are really completely separate; God, the source of all love, was infinitely stronger than my fear. Indeed, God, divine Love, is the only power, and fear has no power. The love I felt for my daughter actually included no fear, and the fear, although it seemed all-consuming, was really powerless to affect me or the baby. The Bible states, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear."
