A heavenly gift from a secret friend

Rubens Colonezi

Translated from Portuguese Recently I read an article in The Herald of Christian Science called, "To drink or not to drink?" It took me back four years to when someone—"a secret friend"—mailed me an issue of the Herald. I liked the articles and, after quite some time, I began subscribing to the magazine. Then I noticed its list of addresses of Christian Science churches in São Paulo, and started attending the downtown church.

It was as if a light went on in my mind.

To tell the truth, there was another Christian Science church closer to my house, but I preferred the one downtown because ... there was a bar right on the corner. After church I would stop at the bar to have "one drink," and then stop at other bars on the way home. Although my drinking never interfered with my work or family duties at the time, I drank a lot.

But what I was hearing at the church services and reading in the Herald could not help but bear fruit. One day, it was as if a light went on in my mind. And I reasoned, "What you're doing isn't right. If someone sees you drinking right after you leave the service, it's not going to look good for the church members, because people might think you're one of them." I was more concerned about the church members than myself. So I made a pact with God to stop drinking. It wasn't easy, but with the help of our Father, I did it.

I've been completely alcohol-free for three years. And now I attend the Christian Science church closest to my home. That issue of the Herald from my "secret friend," was really a heavenly gift.

Rubens Colonezi
São Paulo, SP, Brazil

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God, the strong deliverer

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