A few months ago I felt nauseous and became ill. My fear was that I would faint, and although I was at home, there would be no one around to help me. I managed as best as I could and then painfully lay on my bed to pray. I knew that in this hour of need my remedy was in God.
I had learned from a young age in a Christian Science Sunday School that God made man in His image and likeness, and that God saw everything he had made and it was “very good” (see Genesis 1:26, 31). This statement about the spiritual truth of God and His creation is one I have come to rely on.
In First John 4:8, it is also written that “God is love,” and I have come to know God’s loving care through the years. In the Christian Science textbook, Mary Baker Eddy gives inspired insight into the nature of God as Love when she writes, “Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 494).
It was the comfort that Love provides that I needed to feel right then. I had been feeling rather emotional the previous week—over silly things, I realized. I had let them get to me, until I felt quite overcome. In Christian Science we learn that the cause of all disease is mental, and I saw that I needed to address thought and begin seeing myself as God sees me: complete, lacking nothing, and as being in His loving care.
I sent a text message to a Christian Science practitioner asking for Christian Science treatment. Although I felt a great deal of pain, I knew that this wasn’t the end and there was going to be relief. On many occasions I have been healed through the prayerful treatment of a Christian Science practitioner. Once I was permanently healed of boils on my legs. I knew that my need for healing would be met in this case, as well. The sense of calm I soon felt was a direct result of the practitioner’s prayers.
My son intended to visit me that afternoon, and I called him to come straight away. He assisted with various household tasks, and his prayerful support—his voicing of my perfection as a child of God, made in His image and likeness—was so reassuring. It was an affirmation that God didn’t make a well body or a sick body, he made man spiritual, therefore complete, satisfied, and in perfect health. I knew that this “man” was me and every other member of the family, all of whom were being beautifully cared for by God, and were always included in His loving attention.
Hymn 134 in the Christian Science Hymnal speaks of our relationship to God:
Embosomed deep in Thy dear love,
Held in Thy law, I stand:
Thy hand in all things I behold,
And all things in Thy hand.
(Samuel Longfellow)
Through the study of Christian Science I had been learning about my tender relationship to God, and now I had the opportunity to demonstrate it. The practitioner reminded me that I could never be separated from divine Love, my source of health and happiness. Also, that nothing could ever change the way God made me, His spiritual idea. There was nothing in His universe, no false belief about anyone, that could annoy or disturb me and disrupt the peace and harmony that constituted my spiritual identity. I am forever whole, free, and joyful. It says in Science and Health, “A spiritual idea has not a single element of error, and this truth removes properly whatever is offensive” (p. 463).
I was able to go to sleep while my son went home to his family, with the intention that he would return for the night. After about two hours I awoke and knew I was able to care for myself. I let my son know that I was healed and would continue with my prayerful work in support of the practitioner’s treatment.
Gratefully, the next morning I was able to confirm my complete healing with my son and the practitioner.
I love what I am learning in Christian Science, which elucidates Christ Jesus’ healings and teaching, and is available for everyone to follow.
Irmgard Louis
Paulshof, Sandton, South Africa
