One night I woke up with intense pain in my abdomen. I tried to pray, but the pain continued. So I crawled out of bed and called my mom for help. She had raised me always to trust in God’s love, and as a child I had proved many times that God’s love heals. But this time there was no relief.
I had just taken Christian Science class instruction, a two-week course in Christian Science healing. I’d been taught how to reason spiritually, beginning with God and my unchanging relationship to Him. I’d learned as well that Christ Jesus’ teachings and example show us how to heal as he did. This course launched my spiritual journey to increasingly experience divine reality right here on earth. And I expected healing in this moment.
However, Mom had served as a medical nurse during World War II and beyond—and now this background kicked into our conversation. She said that if something didn’t change soon, she would need to take me to the hospital. I was determined to stick with the healing Christ, though, and to put into practice what I had just learned in class. I asked Mom to call my Christian Science teacher to pray with me. When we spoke briefly, I felt some relief and became less fearful.
