How I Found Christian Science May 15, 2017 Issue

No need to compete for Love’s provision

Becky Barrett-Alford

As we were growing up, my three siblings and I competed against each other for everything, especially for attention and recognition. Even after we reached adulthood, we competed to prove who could make the most money and buy the largest home. In retrospect, I think we all believed there wasn’t enough good to go around and we were determined to get our share.

My occupation for many years was selling diamonds. I felt I was surrounded by love in this work, since people usually buy diamonds because they love someone. But as pure as my motives began, I was always seduced by the pressure to compete. My company had ongoing sales contests with fabulous prizes, and I felt it was imperative to be among the top 25 salesmen in the country.

One day in 1990, a woman entered my jewelry store with her son to cosign a loan for a diamond for his fiancée. Filling out the credit application, I asked her occupation, and she told me she was a Christian Science practitioner. I had never heard that term before, so I asked her about it, and she joyfully told me.

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