Alarming symptoms vanish

One day, I ran into a friend whom I hadn’t seen in a long time. She told me she’d had a very serious kidney infection. Then she began to tell me in detail about the symptoms and suffering she had experienced. At some point in the conversation, I was so impressed by what my friend said that I kept replaying in my mind what she was telling me. We said goodbye, and I didn’t think about our meeting anymore.

A few days later, I was doing some chores at home when I suddenly began feeling unwell. I had to stop working and went into the bathroom and noticed some bleeding. I became alarmed when I realized that I had all the symptoms my friend had described.

I lay down and began to read the book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. I was looking for inspiration, as I do in every instance when I am confronted with a problem. I prayed and asked God to tell me how to face this situation.

In Science and Health, I read, “You will also learn that in Science there is no transfer of evil suggestions from one mortal to another, for there is but one Mind, and this ever-present omnipotent Mind is reflected by man and governs the entire universe” (p. 496 ). This passage helped me understand that I had been influenced by the fairly detailed account of my friend’s health issues. And yet, this was an opportunity to recognize the healing power of the Christ, the spiritual idea of God.

I continued reading Science and Health, and in the evening I felt better. When I woke up the next day, I was well. The condition had vanished as if it were a dream.

I learned from this experience that it’s important to be alert and watch our thought so that it is not influenced by false beliefs, such as the reality of sickness, which never come from God.

When we are tempted to accept such beliefs, we are opening the door to fear. Mary Baker Eddy says that “fear is the fountain of sickness …” (Science and Health, p. 391 ). We can turn to God and break free from fear, or the despair that something bad can happen to us. We can trust that God is the only power.

To protect my thoughts, every morning I pray the “Daily Prayer” that Mrs. Eddy gave us: “ ‘Thy kingdom come;’ let the reign of divine Truth, Life, and Love be established in me, and rule out of me all sin; and may Thy Word enrich the affections of all mankind, and govern them!” (Manual of The Mother Church, p. 41 ).

Praying every day continues to spiritualize my thought and makes me feel at peace. People around me have noticed this. In fact, a neighbor told me that I exude happiness. Each of us is the reflection of God and expresses His qualities, such as kindness and humility, as well as receptivity and spiritual strength.

I’m very grateful to God for this healing, and for so many others, thanks to the study of Christian Science.

Sofía Rodríguez de Cestti
Lima, Peru