Many years ago, I was teaching Sunday School in Libya at an Air Force base where my husband was stationed. A requirement was to spend a month teaching each of the popular Protestant religions, since the Sunday School was nondenominational. My curiosity was aroused concerning all these religions, and I vowed to study the Bible and decide which was right.

As I read, I found I was most stumped by the books of Genesis and Revelation—especially the stark differences between the accounts of creation’s beginning and ending. As I reread and pondered, I asked God in prayer to let me know which religion on earth was correct—and fully trusted that the answer would be shown to me.

Our two years in Libya ended, and we came back home stateside. All our belongings were sent back to the United States as well, and part of our garage was filled with miscellaneous items, including a footlocker I did not recognize. When I opened it, I saw it contained a brand new book. Nothing else. I took the book and placed it on a shelf under our television set.

Later, my sister-in-law spotted the text and remarked, “I didn’t know you had her book!”

“Whose book?” I questioned. She answered, “Mary Baker Eddy’s book.” “What’s it about?” I asked. “It’s about Christian Science,” she replied.

Just then the children interrupted us, and no more was said about the book sitting on the shelf.

One night about a month later, my husband went on temporary duty near Las Vegas to witness an atomic bomb being tested underground. After I put the children to bed, I lit a cigarette, grabbed a can of beer, and settled down to read the “little book,” Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. I got to page 43 when I was startled to hear the words, Listen, Irene. They were spoken so clearly and lovingly; it was as though someone were standing in the room with me. I immediately responded, “I will”—and I have!

That was my last cigarette and beer—I simply never thought of them again. When my husband got home a week later, I told him what had happened. His response shocked me—he requested a divorce! He didn’t want anything to do with the Christian Science “cult,” as he termed it. What could I do? We had three young children, but I couldn’t just give up Christian Science after what had happened. So I picked up my Bible and read Matthew 5—the beginning of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount—to my husband, trying my best to read through the tears. Suddenly he softened. He told me, “It’s OK if you study Christian Science and take the kids to church, but I don’t want you to talk to me about it.”

I did just that. The kids and I attended services at the Christian Science society near the Air Force base. I found I was able to contribute to church work, and I served on every committee there.

Our family had so many healings. One day I had a terrible case of the flu, and was feeling miserable while trying to make dinner. I asked the girls to watch the spaghetti sauce while I went to my room. I got out my copy of Science and Health and prayed. I don’t remember what I read or thought about, but I came out of the room 15 minutes later, completely healed. Our youngest was so impressed that she decided to do the same thing. She had hurt her toe earlier that day, and it appeared to be broken. Soon she went into her room and read her copy of Science and Health. She, too, came out completely healed—her toe was perfectly straight and normal.

My husband noticed these healings, and later, after we’d transferred to Florida, he told me, “I would like to go to church.” His attitude toward Christian Science had completely changed. He went through Primary class instruction in Christian Science and became a Reader at our church. He was the best Reader I have ever heard.

All three of our children are still active Christian Scientists today, and have had countless healings of their own. I’m so humbled and amazed by that message I received from God—and grateful to know how divine Love itself communicates with us.