Upon waking up one morning a few years ago, I felt excruciating pain in both my hands. They were swollen, and I couldn't move them. It was the same with my wrists, elbows, and knees. My husband did everything he could to help me. He asked a Christian Science practitioner for treatment. He also called a Christian Science nurse. She came every morning for a couple of hours and gave me very loving, conscientious care. Every day we spoke with the practitioner over the telephone. Friends who visited said that I would probably have to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair.
I knew, however, that God is my Life, and I clung fast to the truth. We relied unconditionally on God. As the Bible says in Isaiah: "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness" (41:10).
Our friends asked when we were going to cancel the trip we had been planning, since to them it was obviously impossible for us to go. I answered that there were still several weeks before the trip and that with God's help we would be able to undertake it. The day of departure came. Getting to the car was at first very difficult for me. But I told myself, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Phil. 4:13).
