Although I am a third-generation Christian Scientist, I became very lukewarm and apathetic toward this Science during my high school and university years. I suppose it had been too easy for me to turn to my mother or grandmother for help in prayer, and I had never really been challenged with a serious difficulty. As a result of a crisis when I was newly married, I felt literally forced back into Christian Science. Only then did I realize just what I'd been missing, and how wonderfully satisfying this religion is in every way.

I soon joined a Church of Christ, Scientist, and thereafter had class instruction. This instruction was the most rewarding and motivating experience of my life. It made my commitment to Christian Science total, and it brought the realization that no problem is too great for this Science to annihilate. Our teacher encouraged us to tackle problems ourselves before rushing to telephone Christian Science practitioners busy with those who perhaps needed their support and guidance more.

The year following class instruction I was able, most unexpectedly, to attend the Biennial College Meeting at The Mother Church. This was a deeply moving experience, which heightened and strengthened my dedication to Christian Science. During my absence, my husband, at that time a regular attendant of a church of another denomination, continued to leave our two small children at the Christian Science Sunday School. He then found himself staying for the service at our church, as it satisfied him more than his own. Since then social drinking has simply left him.

I have witnessed some outstanding healings through steadfast reliance on Truth. We now have four young children. When the third one was six months old, I woke up early one morning and felt impelled to check on him. When I picked him up, I found he was very cold and limp. I began vehemently claiming God's allness— that He was the only Life there is and that the child was His perfect, innocent reflection. My fear was great. I declared to myself that "perfect love casteth out fear" (I John 4:18). As God is Love and God is All, there isn't any room for fear. I thought it best to put the child back into his bed, so that I would be less aware of the frightening picture as I continued to pray for him.

I went into the next room and began identifying our son as a child of God, pondering the seven synonyms for God that Mrs. Eddy gives us in Science and Health. They are: Soul, Spirit, Principle, Mind, Life, Truth, Love. After I clearly realized that God's love for the child and for me was greater than I could conceive, that it was infinite and ever present and that nothing could invade it, I felt a sense of peace come over me. I knew my prayer was complete and that my son was well. This proved to be the case. That morning he was completely normal.

Last year, while our seven-year-old daughter was practicing sack-racing for her school sports, she fell and hurt her arm. It assumed an odd shape, and she was unable to move it. My husband put it in a sling, as he thought this was the loving thing to do. I reminded the child that God is All. I spent that evening studying what Mrs. Eddy has to say in Science and Health about there being no accidents in God's kingdom. I understood that our daughter had nowhere to fall because God is all-presence and God is Love.

The following morning the swelling in the arm had subsided, and she was able to go to school without the sling. She was pleased that no one noticed the difficulty.

In the chapter "Christian Science Practice" Mrs. Eddy tells us that young children should be treated mainly through the thought of the parent (see Science and Health, p. 412). With this in view my prayer took a new turn. I claimed my inseparability from God, good, as well as our daughter's, realizing that my source of joy was never in person but was God, the Giver of all joy and happiness. There was never a break between God and His forever perfect idea, man. I continued praying along these lines, applying truths from the Bible Lesson in the Christian Science Quarterly and from articles in the Christian Science periodicals. In several days our daughter's arm was naturally straight and flexible, and it has given her no trouble since.

I am realizing that putting church before everything—obeying the Manual of The Mother Church by Mrs. Eddy, in all ways— brings the greatest joy, freedom, and protection. I would find it difficult to cope without Christian Science, and I am unspeakably grateful for it.

(Mrs.) Sandra Trevor-Roberts
Kloof, Natal, Republic of South Africa