A year and a half ago, I started feeling severe pain in my hip. The condition worsened to such an extent that I had a lot of trouble climbing the stairs to my fourth-floor apartment, and I could no longer take public transportation to get around. My children then suggested I sell the apartment and buy another one closer to all my activities, because my place was very far from the center of Santiago.

I began to pray about this. Often the inspiration I get from hymns in the Christian Science Hymnal has been so helpful to me. The words to Hymn 82, which says, in part, that "God is working His purpose out/As year succeeds to year," encouraged me, and helped me understand that God had a plan for me—and that His plan, or purpose, would certainly be fulfilled in my life.

Thanks to this prayer, my children and I were inspired to put the apartment up for sale, and were able to sell it very quickly. The second person who saw it, bought it. Meanwhile, we were looking for another apartment for me and finally found a beautiful one on the eighth floor of a building with an elevator. It was ideal—in just the right location, closer to my church and work.

That sale and move were proof to me of the fact that God's plan for us is clearly good. Without a doubt, He had a special place reserved for me. I truly felt like the "heir" of God, and "joint-heir" with Christ, of whom the Bible speaks (see Rom. 8:17).

But at this point I was not well at all. I limped when I walked and had so much difficulty moving around that I had to take taxis to get from one place to another. My friends started telling me to get medical treatment and to take medication. One of them had undergone hip surgery, and they all suggested I have an operation as well.

In my prayers, however, I insisted that God, being Principle, was governing the entire universe with His laws of harmony. Although the pain in my hip was so piercing it felt as if a nail were embedded there, I continued affirming that my substance was spiritual—that I lived, and moved, and had my being in Spirit (see Acts 17:28), and not in matter. As a spiritual being, I did not include a single painful or discordant element.

I also prayed specifically with five insights into the nature of God, which I found in studying the book Science and Health: 1) There is only one perfect Principle and perfect idea—"perfect God and perfect man" (p. 259) . 2) "Mind [God] is the source of all movement ..." (p. 283). 3) "... there is no inertia to retard or check [Mind's] perpetual and harmonious action" (p. 283). 4) "Spirit is the life, substance, and continuity of all things" (p. 124). 5) "Mind is perpetual motion." Therefore, "The rotations and revolutions of the universe of Mind go on eternally" (p. 240). This study was very beautiful. I undertook it with a lot of joy and expectation that I would be healed.

In December 2003, I had to travel to Germany to take care of one of my sisters. During that time, I continued to watch my thinking very carefully, being very alert not to allow entrance to any thought that was discouraging or materialistic. I had the privilege of caring for my sister and for myself at the same time, remaining firm in my prayers about the truth of my spiritual perfection. In addition, I got the rest I so badly needed. When I returned to Chile the next month, I felt much stronger.

Days later, as I was slowly walking along the street, I took a step expecting pain, but realized I no longer felt that familiar stab. I was afraid that it might reappear and stop me in my tracks, but it never came back. Now I walk better than I did before I had this difficulty—with complete agility and freedom.

Once when my son came to visit me, there was a power outage, and we had to climb the eight flights up to my apartment, I went up the stairs at the same speed as he did. He couldn't believe it, and was very surprised and happy.

My gratitude to God is immense. And I make sure to give Him thanks with each step I take. This healing is the most wonderful thing that has happened to me in the last few years.

HERTHA FENNER
SANTIAGO, CHILE