I grew up attending Sunday School, and Christian Science was part of my life. However, after college I began studying the Christian Science Bible Lesson more faithfully and regularly attending church. I first became interested in having Christian Science Primary class instruction when I became friends with a woman younger than myself who had already taken class. 

I was so surprised because I thought class was something you did much later in life. She and I had long spiritually oriented conversations after church services, and she inspired me. Being the youngest person I’d met who had taken class, she definitely planted the seed that I didn’t have to wait. I spoke with a few teachers right after that, but didn’t feel quite ready. My husband and I had a baby, life got busier, and a few years passed. Then I was praying with a Christian Science practitioner when the idea of class came up again, and I found out she was a teacher. Now it was clear to me that it was time. 

Although I lived in the same area where the class was taught, I was able to stay away from home, house-sitting with a classmate. This allowed me to fully concentrate on the class and assignments. It was a very special experience, and I actually struggled the first couple of days with “Why did I put this off?” That feeling lifted after a friend pointed out how class was a divinely unfolded event; that it was God’s hand bringing together the teacher and these specific students.

The evening before the final day of class, my husband called to ask me to pray, to give specific Christian Science treatment to our five-year-old daughter, who was ill and uncomfortable. I wrote out a treatment using the Lord’s Prayer, but I kept getting a mental image of my daughter in pain. When I was about to call my teacher to ask her to take over the case, I remember so clearly standing with one hand on the phone, the other hand with a copy of The Christian Science Journal open to her number, and suddenly being suspended in action. 

It dawned on me that the image interrupting my prayerful work was an “aggressive mental suggestion” (see Mary Baker Eddy, Church Manual, p. 42). Correctly naming the evil using terms from Mary Baker Eddy’s writings was something we had covered in class. Identifying it this way completely dispelled the fear. I returned to the treatment with fresh authority. Not long after that, my husband called and reported that our daughter was completely well. We had a joyful reunion the next day.

This healing brought another important lesson. My teacher asked me to share the healing with our association held the next month, but that day she never called on me, and I was very disappointed. Was I being too eager? Had my personal ego been kept in check? When I picked up my daughter from the baby sitter’s home, she could tell I was disturbed and asked if the association meeting had been sad. I replied that I was feeling a little sad because I didn’t get to share her nice healing. She then let me know very clearly that she wouldn’t want me to share that story. Oh my gosh! I had forgotten to ask for her permission to share!                                       

When my dear teacher called a little later to apologize for not calling on me, saying, “I don’t know why I skipped you,” I was able to reassure her it was completely God’s doing—this had been a protection to my daughter and us. All disappointment and confusion melted away, and we both were in awe of God’s love for all of us.