WHEN I WAS FIRST INTRODUCED to Christian Science as a young adult, the freedom from fear that came into my life made a big impression on me. I'd had an overall feeling that life and God were a mystery. But Christian Science made life and God understandable. I was inspired and wanted to learn all that I could in order to be able to share it with others.

Four years after this, I took Primary class instruction—a course that prepares the student of Christian Science to pray more effectively for themselves and others. Following that, I had a real desire to work as a Christian Science practitioner. However, I felt that I still needed to practice what I'd learned more in my own life before beginning to pray for others.

At that time The Christian Science Monitor had local church members who worked as advertising representatives. I became a rep for our small community, and in this capacity I introduced the paper to local merchants and sold ads. I was deeply impressed by the warm welcome I received in the community, and also by the active desire of merchants to advertise in the Monitor.

My courage to introduce others to Christian Science grew, and so did the desire to enter the healing practice. Two years later, in the months prior to the birth of our first child, I studied the paragraph on page 463 of Science and Health with the marginal heading "Scientific obstetrics." Here, Mary Baker Eddy referred to the child yet to be born as "the new idea." And of this "new idea" she said, "Its beginning will be meek, its growth sturdy, and its maturity undecaying."

It occurred to me that my desire to be a Christian Science practitioner was also a "new idea" being born. I realized a strong and fully developed healing practice would also naturally grow from a humble beginning. I could start right where I was, just as I was, and give prayerful treatments. So I set aside some time each day for such focused prayer, and often I'd write out my thoughts. They pertained to our family and to news items that I found in the local newspaper and in the Monitor that needed healing. I'd say this was the official, yet quite humble, beginning of my healing practice.

When our son was born, this specific focus was put on hold for a time, but my desire to help others as a Christian Science practitioner never flagged. I became very active in church work, serving as clerk in my Christian Science branch church, and then as Second Reader. It was a period of great spiritual growth for me. Two years later, our daughter was born. As a mother of young children I had many opportunities to practice Christian Science throughout the day. All of these experiences steadily increased my conviction and spiritual understanding.

When my husband changed jobs, we needed to move to another state. As I was packing for the move, I came across the prayer treatments that I'd written out before our son was born. I noticed that even though I'd grown a great deal spiritually since I'd written them, they were good treatments, and I was reminded of healings that had come as a result of those prayers. I felt the time had come to make a public commitment to the practice. So after our move, I listed myself in our local telephone business directory under "Christian Science Practitioners."

To be prepared for calls, I made a list of spiritual facts that I felt needed to be established in my thought each day. While the children played or napped, I would work through this list to be sure I was clear on these important points.

Soon I joined a Christian Science church in our new community, but it was some time before anyone from the church noticed my listing in the telephone directory. However, members of the general public saw the listing and began to call. They asked questions, and some asked for treatment through prayer. Eventually, members of our church began to call me for help as well. My practice work gradually grew. About three years after I'd placed the ad in the telephone directory, I applied to advertise in The Christian Science Journal. My application was accepted the summer before our son started first grade.

Today, both of our children are in college. It would have been easy to find reasons to put off the practice until they were grown, but I'm so glad I didn't wait. To be in the Christian Science practice from the time the children were young was a great blessing. The inspiration strengthened my prayers for the family. As I actively participated in the children's activities, my original goal to share Christian Science with others was met. And I continue to enjoy this enriching work.

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