Last summer, we enjoyed a summer getaway at our cabin in northern Sweden. We had planned lots of outdoor activities and visits to friends and family—time to relax and unwind. A week before the end of our vacation, though, in the middle of the night, I had aggressive symptoms of congestion that went on into the morning hours.

Rather than let the symptoms linger, I challenged the situation with what I’ve learned in Christian Science. The questions came: “How could I go to our friends’ homes with this condition?” and “What about the final visits and activities of our vacation?” But the most important question was, “How could I be separated from God?” 

Every hour or so, I challenged the notion that I was separate from God and claimed my innocence and safety as His beloved child. I reminded myself over and over of the divine Love that permeates my life and the daily protection that is a natural part of my life—of the ever-presence of God and His goodness. I affirmed that these symptoms were not natural, but an imposition.