From the warmth of our home on the East coast of Scotland, looking out on a beautiful snowscape scene, I am reminded of the protection from so-called seasonal colds and flu our family has experienced this winter, for which I would like to express my gratitude
In Miscellaneous Writings, p 230, Mrs Eddy writes, ' A calm Christian state of mind is a better preventive of contagion than a drug, or than any other possible sanative method; and the 'perfect Love ' that 'casteth out fear' is a sure defence'.
As I was preparing for the visit of our daughter, son-in-law and three young adult grandchildren, who were coming from Canada to stay for two weeks over Christmas, I was holding in my thought the ideas of this passage. The previous year, at the same time, our granddaughter had arrived with a heavy cold but, three days later, by Christmas Day, was completely free. One of our grandsons exhibited signs of flu, later in the visit, but recovered in a day or so. I feel sure this was the result of my prayers with this passage. This year's visit was a joy filled and a harmonious one for us all, with walks along the sandy beaches nearby and even a trip to the Highlands.
The 'Nine Lessons and Carols' Service held before Christmas in your church was also a lovely preparation for the season. I am very grateful the replay was made available online too. I especially loved the words in the song sung by Andrew towards the end of the service 'Christ be in your Christmas, Heaven in your home, Radiant rejoicing, Immanuel is come.' I prayed with them each day during the holiday.
After the family returned home I heard from conversations with neighbours that suggestions of flu had been 'going about' as they put it. I realised with gratitude the protection our family had experienced. A few days later, however, I found myself missing all the activity with the young and manifesting flu symptoms with a sense of heaviness. As I found it hard to think clearly I asked a Christian Science practitioner friend for treatment. She reminded me that the only thing that could really 'go about' was good. The sore throat and heaviness soon left me and I was able to move forward with new projects. I am so grateful that Christian Science teaches us to rebel against these false suggestions and find healing.
I'm very grateful for the warm embrace and loving outreach of your church and for the recent help I had with the splendid Zoom system. I'm also grateful for our weekly Bible Lessons that are always so timely. Whenever I hear with reference to the weather, on the media at the moment , about 'the beast from the East' I mentally replace it with 'Christ will command the wave' from p 570 of Science and Health, in the section about Jesus stilling the storm in this week's Lesson on Christ Jesus. I would also like to say a big thank-you for all the inspiring Wednesday readings I've listened to regularly, on SoundCloud, from your church.