Several years ago, I became aware of a growth on my forehead. I recalled that my mother had had a similar growth in the same place. Hers was medically diagnosed as a form of skin cancer and was eventually surgically removed. So part of my prayer was challenging the belief in genetically inherited predispositions.
I found this passage from the Christian Science textbook especially helpful: “Heredity is a prolific subject for mortal belief to pin theories upon; but if we learn that nothing is real but the right, we shall have no dangerous inheritances, and fleshly ills will disappear” (Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 228).
Because my preferred hairstyle includes bangs covering my forehead, the growth was usually hidden from view. However, I was reminded of it each time I lathered my face while showering. Whenever I became aware of it, I exchanged this false sense of material growth for the true sense of growth in grace.
