A little over two years ago, I was called to the home of my brother, who was suffering from severe abdominal pain and other symptoms and was in immediate need of assistance. He is a Christian Scientist, as I am, and relies on prayer for healing. He had already called a Christian Science practitioner to pray for him. 

As I prepared to go to his house to help in any way I could, I was grateful that I had the kind of job that gave me the flexibility to take some time off to care for him.

As I left my office, I called the practitioner, who was in another state, and let him know I was on the way to my brother’s house. The practitioner said that he was knowing about my brother what God knew about him as His unblemished, whole child. I resolved to see him that way myself. I thought about the qualities that the book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures identifies as necessary for a nurse—not just a trained nurse but anyone who might be called on to provide care for a friend or loved one. It explains, “The nurse should be cheerful, orderly, punctual, patient, full of faith,—receptive to Truth and Love” (Mary Baker Eddy, p. 395). In Christian Science, Truth and Love are synonyms for God.