The power of God's 'right hand'

It was the first warm spring day that I could ride my bike. The snow was gone, and finally I had the freedom to ride my bike to town with my 3-year-old son on the seat behind me.

I relished the fresh air in my face as we took off for the shops. Turning a corner too fast, I veered onto the sidewalk. My wheel caught in the groove next to the pavement and flipped the bike over. I lost consciousness with the impact, and, when I woke up, there were a dozen people standing over me. I looked around for my son. He was still strapped safely in the seat, smiling at me. With great cheer he said, "Great time to pray, huh, Mom?"

I was able to stand up on my own and reassured everyone that I could walk my bike home. My arm was limp by my side and appeared broken. But my tears were not only about the pain. How my heart yearned to find happiness.

No matter how devoted my husband was, no matter how delightful my child, every day seemed like a grind. While I was doing a small amount of professional work at home, my homemaking tasks felt like drudgery. We were new in a tiny rural town, and I had no friends my own age. How I longed to be back in the city.

That night I got little sleep because of the discomfort. I told my husband I needed to see a doctor for the bones to be set. He was happy to take me, but suggested that I call a Christian Science practitioner first. Talking to the practitioner on the phone was very comforting. I was surprised when a half-hour later, before we had time to call the doctor, the bones had realigned and the pain was gone. I felt confident that using a supportive sling was all I needed at that point.

In praying, I remembered a Bible verse that was very instructive: "O sing unto the Lord a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory" (Ps. 98:1).

I liked thinking of God's right hand being a source of blessing and power. I could see that His blessing wasn't partial or halfway; God intends for us to be happy in the magnitude of His love. His love is powerful and defeats everything that is opposed to the well-being of His children. My prayers were focused on these ideas.

A few days later, I woke up in the middle of the night with a clear direction that I needed to go iron the clothes. This was very unusual, and the idea didn't make me happy. It seemed impossible in light of the weakness of my arm, but also I hated ironing and I'd been avoiding it. After several hours of tossing and turning, I got up and started heating the iron. While I waited, I suddenly starting crying. "God, I hate my life," I said out loud.

Very gently, I heard this message: "I have never asked you to do one thing by yourself." I felt it was a message from God.

Standing at the ironing board, I felt surrounded by the presence of God. It made me feel so loved and companioned. Without thinking, I picked up the iron and found I had full strength in my arm. Joyful and grateful and without pain, I finished ironing the pile of shirts. The healing was confirmed when I lifted a 50-pound sack of flour a few days later and learned to play tennis that year.

Spiritual healings like this one are explained in a book written by Mary Baker Eddy, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." This textbook includes this statement: "...Life is God and ... the might of omnipotent Spirit shares not its strength with matter or with human will" (pp. 193-194). A more conscious sense of God's presence and power tempers the human feelings that can lead to so much misery.

Many times I have thought of this experience. Since then, I have enjoyed homemaking, and my professional work grew naturally in harmony with my family.

God is not weak. His love is enforced. This is the foundation of our happiness and strength. We never have to do anything alone.