In 1995, my adult son passed on, and in the following years I was searching to find an understanding of God and answers to the many questions I had about life. I had no religious background to fall back on, but had always believed that there was a God.

One day, I asked my stepsister, whom I didn’t know very well, which church she attended. She told me about a healing she’d had in Christian Science, and I found that she’d been a Christian Scientist for many years. After talking with her, I decided to go to the Christian Science Reading Room in our town, and I bought a copy of Science and Health. I began reading the book. I didn’t understand it all, but what I did understand touched my heart, and I felt that it was right. I felt this was a lifelong self-improvement program. After reading Science and Health three or four times, I started attending a local branch Church of Christ, Scientist.

After a move in 2001, I collapsed from exhaustion, and a friend took me to the hospital, where I spent a week recuperating from pneumonia. I was also diagnosed as having Type II diabetes. I was then released from the hospital and spent another week with friends before returning home. I was in touch with a Christian Science practitioner, and she helped me by answering a lot of my questions. I did not ask her for specific prayer. I wasn’t even thinking that I could be healed through prayer.

After leaving the hospital, I was required to take insulin injections and have periodic tests done at a lab, and to then meet with the doctor to review the test results.

In April 2002, while sitting outside reading Science and Health before leaving for church, I felt surrounded by something wonderful—a warm presence—which I find is hard to describe. I then realized it was past the time for me to leave. About 20 minutes into the service, I realized I had not taken my morning injection for the diabetes. Panic set in, as I was afraid of what might happen.

I left for home immediately after the service. But when I arrived home, something stopped me from taking the medication. It was like putting two ends of a magnet together—I just got the message not to do it. That evening, the same thing happened, and I was again led not to take the medication. I felt no fear and was completely confident about this decision, which I now see came from my growing spiritual understanding.

At the next meeting with the doctor, I was informed that everything was fine. I didn’t mention that I had not been taking the injections for about one month.

At our following meeting, the results were the same—everything was fine. I then told the doctor I’d been studying Christian Science and had not been using my medication for two months; that through my study of Christian Science I was led not to use the medication. The doctor recommended I have a complete physical exam, but I declined.

Later, when his office called requesting again that I have a physical, I told the woman on the phone I wouldn’t be coming back. She asked me for a reason, and I replied, “Because I believe I’m working with a higher power.” I felt she was as surprised with my answer as I was.

I have remained free for several years now.

When I was informed in the hospital of the diagnosis of diabetes and that I would have to take injections twice a day, little did I know that I would be receiving such a great gift of healing so soon. Whenever I forget to trust God, I keep reminding myself to get back on track and keep studying in order to learn more about Him, thereby increasing my trust that He is always with me—that God is Life.

My life has been hard, and I did not have a whole lot of trust or understanding of God, but I know that I was searching for this Truth. I feel a lot better now than when I started. And little things keep happening that show me I’m on the right path.

I’m so very grateful to God, Mary Baker Eddy, and Christian Science, as well as the practitioner who helped me as a friend through this difficult time. I’ve also been healed of the lingering heartache of losing my only child. And I’m now a member of The Mother Church and of my branch church.

God is good.