Several months ago I was around a person who showed signs of a cold, including a persistent cough. Upon arriving home, I started to exhibit the same symptoms. It was natural for me to turn to prayer for healing, knowing that as God’s child, made in His image and likeness, all I could know and express was harmony and peace. How could I or anyone else have something that was no part of God, such as a cold?

I affirmed in my prayers that all I could catch from another was good. This was a day before I was to serve as Second Reader at my branch Church of Christ, Scientist. I had studied thoroughly the Bible stories in that week’s Bible Lesson from the Christian Science Quarterly, and I knew it was right to be at my post as Reader at church. But the coughing persisted.

On Saturday night, after a day of prayer and study that included sharing metaphysical ideas with my sister and my husband, I felt at peace to go forward and read the next morning. When I woke up the following day, there was still a cough, but as I continued praying, I felt guided to get ready and start off for church. Mary Baker Eddy states in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, “Whatever it is your duty to do, you can do without harm to yourself” (p. 385).