I began to pray when I noticed that it seemed to be more and more difficult for me to get up and to stand. Eventually, it was necessary for me to stay in bed, as I was unable to stand and was experiencing great pain. The Christian Science practitioner I called for treatment encouraged and helped me a great deal. Pain, helplessness, and depression were handled by recognizing that they are no part of our perfect being as God's expression.
The twenty-third Psalm was my constant companion. Since I could not manage reading at this time, simple Biblical sentences and phrases were an important part of my continuing prayer. Where in the past I had just repeated the twenty-third Psalm, I now listened carefully to each line and looked for its deeper meaning. Cassette tapes of Science and Health and of the Bible Lessons were of continuing value.
I gave up all attempts at rationalizing and evaluating my progress. Instead, I remembered to thank God for the many gifts He gives us each day. First for the gift of life itself and for each new day; for the gift of our being His expression and the vision I have to see His beautiful creation; for the inherent innocence and unconditional love that children express; and for the goodwill I was learning to see in everyone and in all mankind. It was so comforting to know I was never alone—that God is always with me.
