When I was in my late teens, the Christian Science textbook was introduced to my mother by a friend of hers. It came into our home as a light shining in the darkness of fear, because at that time my mother was suffering from an acute illness diagnosed as possibly fatal intestinal ulcers. She studied the book and was eventually healed through the prayers of herself and a Christian Science practitioner. She led an active life for many years and became a Christian Science practitioner herself.

My mother's progress made me wonder about Christian Science, and I began to read Science and Health, with casual curiosity. But after my mother began attending church services and relating to me some of the testimonies of healing she heard, I began to study the weekly Bible Lesson. This study opened the Bible for me as a practical guide in daily life; I had not been at all familiar with it because our family, which lived in India, followed an ancient, monotheistic, non-Christian religion that does not use the Bible.

Not too long after taking up the study of Christian Science, I was convinced that it was the religion I wanted, because I experienced proofs of its healing application in my everyday life. I also began attending church services. Our family's religion was very strict about conversion to another religion—once converted, one would be debarred from fulfilling social obligations involving religious ceremonies, or from enjoying certain privileges reserved for the community. But my mother and I wanted to give our "mite" to help our fellowman by joining the church. After a few years we joined the local Christian Science Society (which is now a church), and later The Mother Church.

Before this time I studied the First Commandment: "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." I learned that man is made in the image and likeness of God, that he is a spiritual idea and not a physical form; also that God is All, that He loves me always, and is unchangeable good. I found freedom and joy in continuing this study and had healings of sprained ankles, frequent nightmares and fear of the dark, and fever. Through prayer I recovered lost articles and demonstrated more abundant supply in my life.

This roused me to the fact that if I was to claim Christian Science as my religion, I should at least make an effort to be healed of sinus trouble that had bothered me since childhood. I had continued taking homeopathic pills to prevent the violent attacks I used to have. Earlier allopathic treatment had not proved effective. I realized that medicine and reliance on God cannot be mixed together, because that would involve serving two masters—God on the one hand, and matter on the other. So I threw away the pills and decided to trust God through prayer.

The complete healing did not come about quickly, although the attacks grew less severe and less frequent. In the early days when I could not pray effectively myself, I would have help from a practitioner and I would receive quick relief. I am grateful for those treatments, for they put me on the right track. During this time, study of the lesson, reading of The Christian Science Journal and the Sentinel, active branch church membership, and class instruction in Christian Science were great strengthening factors in my understanding that this trouble was a false belief of mortal mind; it was not God-given, and God would show me whatever I needed to know.

One day I realized that I still harbored a latent fear of the sinus condition. This could only be removed by claiming God's ever-presence and my inseparability from Him as His beloved child. These words from Science and Health were helpful: "As a drop of water is one with the ocean, a ray of light one with the sun, even so God and man, Father guided my prayers. I also had to discipline my thought against self-justification.

I can now say that the healing is complete. I have been free of any sinus infection for a number of years. Relief from the suffering is tremendous, but I am most grateful for a truer concept of the Christ. I'm immeasurably grateful for Christian Science!

Nergish Hodiwala
Boston, Massachusetts