A few years ago, I tripped while carrying my six-month-old daughter down the stairs of our house. The baby flew out of my arms and onto the hard marble floor in the entryway. I ran to her as quickly as possible, but what I saw when I got there was disturbing. My daughter was conscious but not at all responsive. I picked her up and talked to her, but her body was limp and she didn't seem normal. She also had a large bruise on the side of her face. I was terrified.
Because I was her foster parent at that time, I was required to take the baby to a doctor for an examination. But before I did, I called a Christian Science practitioner to help me pray about the situation. I told the practitioner I felt I'd damaged my daughter. Even though it was an accident, I felt responsible because I had been rushing around that day trying to get a lot of work done. I was overwhelmed with guilt. The practitioner encouraged me not to plead guilty. He explained that since God is All and is everywhere, there could be no place where His gentle presence is not felt. Assured that the baby could feel this presence and that God was caring for her, I immediately felt calmer and less afraid. The practitioner agreed to continue praying with me.
My mother drove the baby and me to the emergency room of the local hospital. On the way, we both prayed. I held to the idea that because this child was the image and likeness of God (see Gen. 1:26, 27), the doctors and nurses would only be able to see her as God sees her: spiritual and perfect—not damaged in any way. I also felt impelled to include the hospital staff in my prayers, to see them in the same spiritual light in which I was expecting them to see this little girl.
