I have a lot to be grateful for.

At one time I had recurring sties on my eyelids. For one Wednesday evening meeting at church the readings included the story of Christ Jesus being brought before Pilate. When Pilate pointed out the power he had over Jesus, either to crucify or release him, Jesus' answer stood out clearly to me: "Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above" (John 19:11). The next time I felt the soreness on the eye that in the past had announced the arrival of another sty, I refuted it with a paraphrase of Jesus' answer: You have no power over me unless you come from above! The soreness disappeared and nothing eventuated. This happened twice more, and that was the end.

Another day we were off for a family holiday, and I was reading in The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany by Mary Baker Eddy. She had written a letter asking members to pray for peace, and then later, she asked them to cease that special prayer. This was followed by an explanation of her second request (see pp. 279–281). Suddenly I saw vividly that it wasn't the length of prayers that healed. It was because man was made whole that he could be whole. Prayer, as it were, keys you in to what is already a fact.

A couple of days later we went out for a country picnic. When nearly at our destination I noticed my husband could barely drive. I said at once, "I'll affirm the truth," meaning that I would pray. We arrived safely. I found a quiet place off by myself and went over the vivid thought I had had earlier. It was not the length of prayer that healed but the fact that we were made whole in the first place that made it possible for us to be well now.

Our friends who were travelling behind us arrived, and children had to be fed. I didn't think of the matter again until we got into the car to go home. He looked extremely bewildered and surprised at my asking, and then it came back to him! He had been healed on the spot to the extent he had forgotten he'd been in any difficulty. The truth I saw so strongly that day has often supported me in other situations. Much more than the healings, great to have as they are at the time, it's the lessons learnt that stay with you.

I've had lots of lessons on supply. I early learnt the truth of the article "Angels" in Miscellaneous Writings by Mrs. Eddy, where she says, "God gives you His spiritual ideas, and in turn, they give you daily supplies" (p. 307). Without doubt, ideas are what we seek when in need. When we know God's ideas are right there, then our whole thought is open and waiting and ready to receive. And there is never anything dull about God's ideas; they lead to fascinating pathways.

In early married life I could not make the money meet monthly accounts. I was completely clear, however, that God meets all human needs. One day, I was walking in the garden, trying to think of something I could do to a hat to boost my very limited wardrobe, as I was to go to a function related to my husband's work. I was quite sure ideas were present to be seen. At that moment a bird flying overhead dropped a feather in my path. I took it indoors, washed it, dipped it in food colouring, and with a twist and a stitch here and there I had my hat decoration. From this followed a small business making feather mounts for hats.

God's allness and goodness mean one is never limited by geography, economics, age, space, or time. I lived in a small community, well out in the country, yet God showed me only wide horizons of opportunity. For example, when I was looking at the quality of a department store's advertisement in the paper one day, it occurred to me that they needed an artist. I presented some ideas, and this led to a newspaper column on interesting items in their store. These are just some of the opportunities that the understanding of Christian Science has given me.

Spirit sparkles with infinite ideas that in turn give us daily supplies, and I am deeply grateful to Mrs. Eddy for opening up for us God's goodness, which has always been there for all.

Patricia I. Wilson
Nelson, New Zealand