Caregiving? You have what it takes.

A little over two years ago, I was called to the home of my brother, who was suffering from severe abdominal pain and other symptoms and was in immediate need of assistance. He is a Christian Scientist, as I am, and relies on prayer for healing. He had already called a Christian Science practitioner to pray for him.

As I left my office, I called the practitioner and let him know I was on the way to my brother’s house. The practitioner said that he was knowing about my brother what God knew about him as His unblemished, whole child. I resolved to see him that way myself.

I thought about the qualities that the book “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures” identifies as necessary for a nurse – not just a trained nurse but anyone who might be called on to provide care for a friend or loved one. It explains, “The nurse should be cheerful, orderly, punctual, patient, full of faith, – receptive to Truth and Love” (Mary Baker Eddy, p. 395). In Christian Science, Truth and Love are synonyms for God.

It occurred to me that everyone includes these nursing qualities because they are qualities of God, and all of God’s children fully reflect Him. Moreover, when we are receptive to divine Truth and Love and are listening to God’s thoughts rather than to what the physical senses suggest about the problem, we can’t help but be calm, loving, and free of fear.

Understanding our inseparable relation to God, Christ Jesus was able to maintain a mental atmosphere free of fear and doubt when healing individuals. When he was called to the house of one of the religious leaders of his day to heal the man’s sick daughter, the people around her were weeping and wailing because the young girl had just died (see Luke 8:41, 42, 49-55). But Jesus was unimpressed by the material evidence of illness and death and sent the mourners out of the house. Through his trust in God’s power and ability, the girl was revived.

It was this spiritually trusting atmosphere that I wanted to bring to my brother’s situation, knowing that it was most conducive to healing. When I arrived at his house, he expressed concern that he was at a crisis point. I assured him that I was there to help and took all the practical steps I could to make him as comfortable as possible. But just as important, I endeavored to put out of thought any suggestion that my brother was less than the perfect, painless likeness of God.

The Christian Science textbook teaches how to prayerfully banish from thought the suggestions of the physical senses. Mrs. Eddy writes, “When the illusion of sickness or sin tempts you, cling steadfastly to God and His idea. Allow nothing but His likeness to abide in your thought. Let neither fear nor doubt overshadow your clear sense and calm trust, that the recognition of life harmonious – as Life eternally is – can destroy any painful sense of, or belief in, that which Life is not” (Science and Health, p. 495). I strove to be steadfast in recognizing my brother as wholly spiritual, made in the image and likeness of God, who is divine Spirit.

After making sure my brother had everything he needed, I stepped outside. At that moment, I had a very clear sense that all was well with my brother. I had refused to give fear a foothold in my thinking, and that helped purify the mental environment. I quietly rejoiced and gave thanks to God before returning to the house.

As I entered, my brother informed me that the pain and fear had subsided. We acknowledged God’s power together.

My brother slept well that night, and he made steady progress over the next several days. In fact, he was completely free of pain and eating normally by the end of the week. He said this was one of the most significant healings in his life.

The experience was a good lesson for me to trust that when we are called on to aid another, we have God’s help and can do whatever is needed fearlessly and with the expectation of healing.

In whatever capacity we are caregiving, to the degree that we are “cheerful, orderly, punctual, patient, full of faith, – receptive to Truth and Love,” we are expressing the nursing qualities that are so needed in the world and contributing to the comfort and healing of humanity.

Adapted from an article published in the July 17, 2023, issue of the Christian Science Sentinel.