I'm very grateful for the numerous healings and valuable lessons I've learned about man and his relation to God through the study of the Science of Christianity. Gaining a clearer understanding that man's true identity is spiritual and good has healed me not only of physical difficulties but of discordant relationships as well.

I am learning how to turn from a picture of discord to find God's law of Love in complete control at that very moment. There have been numerous occasions for me to do this, but one that stands out happened on Christmas Eve several years ago.

I was busy running last-minute errands, and as I stepped out of my car at one stop I twisted my ankle and almost fell. I immediately declared, "Oh no! I don't have time for this. God's angels will carry me all the way." Immediately the pain ceased, and I went on my way rejoicing, thankful for God's loving care.

It seems there was a larger lesson to be learned, however. That evening as I prepared to go to the Wednesday evening testimony meeting, my ankle began to throb. By the end of the service I could hardly walk to my car. I turned once again to God in prayer, reaffirming His loving presence and care—but also asking what it was that I needed to see more clearly. My prayer was one of listening for God's message. As I kept clearing out the aggressive thoughts of pain and frustration, I held firmly to the fact that God loved me as He loves all of His ideas.

Then the thought came to me that certain family members had not treated me very nicely this holiday season—after all I've done for them, how ungrateful they were! Right there was my answer. I had gotten caught up in criticism and self-righteousness, to say nothing of self-justification.

I immediately began to correct my thought about them and about myself. Thoughtlessness, ingratitude, uncaring actions, were not a part of them any more than criticism and self-righteousness were a part of me. We are all created to express God, and nothing can interfere with our doing so. Man can express only what God is knowing and doing. Our actions are governed by the divine law of Love. As I continued this line of thought, I began to realize that no one could ever truly be unloving. With this a sense of freedom and peace came over me. Within a short time the ankle was painless, and the next morning there was no evidence of the problem.

I continued praying and reexamining my thoughts for the next few days. I wanted thoroughly to weed out any suggestion that anyone could ever have done anything unkind to me. Man is governed by the laws of divine Principle, Love. I expressed gratitude for all that had ever been done for me, and especially for every opportunity I had had to be of help to others. True love is expressed in giving, not in receiving. Within a couple of days correspondence and holiday gifts began to arrive from unexpected sources, evidence of God's love.

I am very thankful to Mrs. Eddy for discovering this Science, but more so for her perseverance in preserving it and presenting it to mankind. Because of the provisions she established to have this Science available to all, I am confident that it will always be there for generations to come.

Roberta A. Smith
La Mesa, California