One year while I was in high school, attending a summer session, I began having trouble breathing. I would inhale large amounts of air and then have great difficulty exhaling it. These attacks occurred sporadically. My mother suggested that I call a Christian Science practitioner for help through prayer, which I did. Each time I called the practitioner, I was helped by the healing truths she shared with me from the Bible and from Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy.

During an attack one day, I again called the practitioner for help. As I was barely able to speak, the practitioner lovingly and audibly prayed for me until I was able to tell her what had happened. She affirmed that nothing could separate me from the love of God. After we talked that day I never again had breathing difficulties of any kind.

A few years ago when this country had just begun to experience soaring interest rates, my husband and I decided to buy a house. Supported by the prayer of a practitioner, we found one that was just right for us. The favorable type of financing that we were given was considered difficult to come by. But we knew that the outcome of this situation was our answer to prayer.

After our new home had been established, it seemed the next natural step for us was to start a family. The time during my pregnancy and through the birth was a wonderful growing period for me in my understanding of Christian Science. I had the prayerful support of a Christian Science practitioner, and the birth of our son was most harmonious.

While I was expecting our second child, I had the privilege of receiving Christian Science class instruction. Although in class I learned many wonderful spiritual truths contained in the Bible and in Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy, I feared that I might not be able to demonstrate these truths in preparing for the birth. When I talked to my Christian Science teacher about this, she helped me see that we need to feel we're on the side of God, Love, who is tenderly caring for us.

I fully agreed with this, and I found these passages in Science and Health to be very helpful: "Fear never stopped being and its action" (p. 151) and "The history of Christianity furnishes sublime proofs of the supporting influence and protecting power bestowed on man by his heavenly Father, omnipotent Mind, who gives man faith and understanding whereby to defend himself, not only from temptation, but from bodily suffering" (p. 387).

As I continued to study I discovered this statement in Science and Health, which became one of my favorites (p. 445): "Christian Science silences human will, quiets fear with Truth and Love, and illustrates the unlabored motion of the divine energy in healing the sick." I liked to think of "unlabored motion" in relation to having a baby.

A week and a half before our daughter was born I went to the hospital with false labor. I really wanted to have our baby then, but I realized that I had to let go of outlining what I wanted. During those few hours that I spent in the labor room I felt calm and strong in the truths that I was applying. This experience showed me that I was indeed capable of demonstrating what I spiritually knew.

The following week the obstetrician said that the baby was not ready to come and would probably be ready closer to the due date, which was two and a half weeks away. A few nights later I began to start labor again. I got up from bed and started praying to know that God, Mind, was governing the situation. A short while later it became apparent that the time had come for the birth, and I called the practitioner to let her know we were on our way to the hospital.

We lived over an hour away from the hospital and had to drop our son off at my parents, who lived about thirty minutes away. My husband and I were both praying to know that only harmonious action was taking place. We made very good time and arrived at the hospital with a few minutes to spare before the baby was born. The birth was very quick and harmonious—evidence of "unlabored motion."

I am very grateful for having been raised in Christian Science, and for all the healings I have had.

ANNE MILLER
Lancaster, California

The Mother Church is The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts. Its branches are called Churches of Christ, Scientist, and Christian Science Societies.