Have you ever wanted to share Christian Science with a friend or acquaintance who appeared to have a great need? Many of us who have experienced the powerful, healing effects of this Science have had this desire.
One important way of letting our friends know about Science and benefit from it is by offering to pray for them if a need for help is apparent. A healing through prayer is a clear-cut demonstration of the efficacy of Christian Science and is much more convincing than words alone. There may well be times when it's appropriate just to tell our friends about Christian Science. But we can also be open to occasions to show them through our loving prayers that it works. Science and Health says, "The tender word and Christian encouragement of an invalid, pitiful patience with his fears and the removal of them, are better than hecatombs of gushing theories, stereotyped borrowed speeches, and the doling of arguments, which are but so many parodies on legitimate Christian Science, aflame with divine Love." Science and Health, p. 367.
As a college student who had just completed Primary class instruction in Christian Science, I had the opportunity of witnessing the healing effect of this teaching on someone who was not a Scientist. One evening, my roommate and I were discussing all that we had to accomplish before final exams the next week. Suddenly, she began to display the symptoms of a cold. I asked her if I could pray for her, and she gave me permission. I recognized that in actual fact she was God's perfect, spiritual idea, and therefore could not be pressured by human events. I also felt a great deal of compassion for her. She woke up in the morning completely healed.
