ONE CHRISTMAS, when I was in eighth grade, I was visiting relatives far from home. A couple of days before I was about to go home, I became very sick. I was barely able to eat or speak. However, I wasn't in any pain, and was able to think clearly.
Out of concern for me and for my ability to fly home, my relatives wanted me to be examined by a doctor. As a Christian Scientist, however, I wanted to rely on prayer for healing as I had experienced many healings in the past, including healings of a concussion, flu, and plantar warts. When I called and spoke with my parents, they told me that I was always in God's care and that they would continue to pray for me, but out of consideration for my relatives, they recommended I see a doctor. My relatives then made a doctor's appointment for the next morning.
I spent the entire night before the appointment praying. I wasn't afraid, but I was very thoughtful. I was praying to understand more about my relationship with God. As I was praying, a question kept coming to me, "What does it mean to be a Christian Scientist?" I thought about all the healings my family and friends at church had through prayer, and I thought about how brave Christ Jesus and Mary Baker Eddy were for providing us with the tools to be healers. Then a thought came to me: "To be a Christian Scientist is to follow the words and works of our Master—to follow the teachings and example of Christ Jesus!"
