As a commercial real estate manager, I was thrilled one day to hear that my company had the opportunity, at the 11th hour, to submit a proposal to a prospective tenant to move their business’s headquarters into our largest vacant property. However, we knew that if we won the tenant, we would have a very short period in which to complete an extensive construction project on the property. Fortunately, the tenant signed the proposal, and we had a quick celebration before bearing down to focus on the work ahead.
About this time, my throat began to bother me. I had trouble speaking clearly, and the condition seemed to worsen over a few weeks. I prayed for myself, but I was so caught up in the real estate project that I just hoped the throat condition would go away. Soon, I was having difficulty swallowing, and I almost lost my voice.
Not long after that, my physical condition forced me to stop working. I told my boss I would need to take time off, which he supported. He was worried about my well-being. He knew I was a Christian Scientist, and he told me he thought I might have a serious condition that should be medically treated.
As a lifelong Christian Scientist, I have always depended on God for healing and have had many healings of physical problems and career issues. But this time, for some reason I couldn’t understand, I was confused and unsure what to do. I was also afraid because I could barely eat or drink.
My mother, who is also a Christian Scientist, came to stay with me to care for my physical needs and answer my phone calls since I couldn’t speak. I kept thinking that I needed to be healed fast because the lease deal I was working on was a top priority. I wrestled with thinking that perhaps, in order to take care of things quickly, I should visit my neighbor, who I knew was a family doctor.
My mother encouraged me to make a decision—either to have medical care or Christian Science treatment. She said I needed to do something because I couldn’t stay in limbo and not help myself. At that point, I knew from past experience that the most important thing I could do, which would help me make a decision, was to start praying deeply and humbly, listening for God’s direction. As I prayed, what came to me was that I was experiencing an opportunity to learn more about God by depending solely on God and Christian Science for healing. With that, I made my choice, and I felt such relief to have chosen Christian Science.
My boss, who was traveling in another part of the country, had been calling multiple times a day to find out how I was doing, and my mother had been speaking with him. I finally asked my mother to thank him kindly, but to firmly assure him that I was having Christian Science treatment and would be in touch soon.
I called a Christian Science practitioner for treatment, and my mom explained the problem to the practitioner. I listened to the practitioner’s assurances that my status as God made me—spiritual, perfect, healthy, and beloved—had never changed. She talked to me about glorifying God in everything I did.
At first, I didn’t understand what she meant by glorifying God or how that related to my situation. She quoted the Apostle Paul: “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (I Corinthians 10:31).
I realized that I had been focused on my job to such an extent that I felt totally responsible for the success or failure of my company. I had lost sight of the fact that everything is created by God, and He is the only Mind, as this passage in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy explains: “Mind is the grand creator, and there can be no power except that which is derived from Mind. If Mind was first chronologically, is first potentially, and must be first eternally, then give to Mind the glory, honor, dominion, and power everlastingly due its holy name” (p. 143).
Another statement that made a lasting impression on me was the practitioner’s reminder: “Don’t let anything undermine your confidence!” I took that to heart, knowing that the practitioner meant I should not let anything undermine my confidence in God to heal, or my understanding of my identity as God’s beloved daughter, made in God’s image and likeness, reflecting His goodness, power, and dominion.
Another couple of days passed, during which I was able to drink only a few drops of water. I called the practitioner daily, and I was inspired by her constant support and unconditional love. The fear that had been so overwhelming to me started to fade.
One night, my mom made me a smoothie. I hadn’t been able to eat or drink anything that day, but she made me a smoothie anyway. As she set it in front of me, Paul’s words came to me again: “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
I suddenly felt God’s loving and powerful presence right there with me. I wasn’t concerned about what I could eat or drink. I just felt a deep desire to glorify God, to acknowledge His presence and power. This brought a deep spiritual transformation of thought, looking away from the body to the allness and omnipotence of God, governing all.
Before I knew it, I drank the smoothie. Tears of gratitude welled up as I realized I was healed. I asked my mom to make me a sandwich. She was delighted! Immediately, I was able to eat and drink normally, though it took a few days for my voice to return completely.
Later, my boss told me that he had been so afraid for me that he had been planning an intervention—to come to my house with some friends and force me to go to a doctor. He said that when my mom told him I was having Christian Science treatment, he let it go. He had still been very concerned, but he had accepted my decision.
He was happy to see me back at work, and not just because I was integral to the tenant deal. Over the years as we worked together on many projects, he often acknowledged and depended on my perspective as to how God was working in our lives.
The construction project was a big test for our small company, but it was completed on time and was satisfying to all parties.
This healing occurred ten years ago, and the condition never returned. This was a milestone for me in my practice of Christian Science. I’m so grateful for all the dedicated Christian Science practitioners who are ready to help.
