For many months, I struggled with a recurring and uncomfortable infection. Each time the symptoms appeared, I would turn to prayer in Christian Science for healing. At times I also called a Christian Science practitioner for metaphysical treatment. I was grateful for the spiritual growth resulting from this prayer, but the problem continued to come and go. Often, I would hold on to a specific thought from the weekly Bible Lesson (found in the Christian Science Quarterly) in response to any pain or fear that came up during the day.

On Christmas Day 2017, as my husband and I were driving to visit family, the painful infection suddenly returned. There was a copy of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy in the car, and I started flipping through it and reading. Science and Health describes Christ as “the true idea voicing good, the divine message from God to men speaking to the human consciousness” (p. 332), and it hit me that the Christ is ever present, on Christmas Day and always. That meant that the Christ was with me right then, and could bring inspiration and healing immediately. 

The book of Hebrews says, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever” (13:8). And what a wonderful day this was to experience the Christ’s divine message! At that moment, I knew I was healed. The problem never returned, and I knew it had never really been part of me as God’s loved daughter.