While shopping on a rainy day, I stepped onto a wet veranda, slipped, and fell hard on my left side. Some shoppers and a representative from the store appeared immediately to help me up, showing great concern.

While still sprawled on the floor, I recalled these words from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures: “When an accident happens, you think or exclaim, ‘I am hurt!’ Your thought is more powerful than your words, more powerful than the accident itself, to make the injury real” (Mary Baker Eddy, p. 397). I resolved to not exclaim, “I am hurt!” but to instead use the occasion to proclaim that I am the child of God, Spirit, and that I am therefore perfect and spiritual. I mentally claimed my exemption from material cause and limitation as the expression of God, whose creation is spiritual and all-harmonious and who knows nothing of accidents. After thanking everyone for their help and expressions of concern, I went about my shopping, determined not to dwell on the incident.

As I shopped, I recalled other sentences from Science and Health that I had previously memorized when praying for healing of an injury. Working with these thoughts helped me move freely without pain. As I was about to exit the store, two of the people who had helped me up reappeared to express their gladness that I seemed OK. They both predicted, however, that I would experience bruises and that the pain would start in the next couple of days.