“We are never alone”

Immediately after Christmas, one of my beautiful companions, “Heidi,” had to be put to sleep. She had fought a good fight with the help of a devoted Christian Science practitioner and had had many healings in Christian Science during her twelve years with me. I had taken her off the street. 

I knew that the joy we experienced, as well as her loyalty, love, courage, and all the other wonderful qualities she expressed as an idea of God, could never die. However, I was very sad and tearful the days following.

On the 29^th of December, before leaving home to run some errands, I prayed, “Dear Lord, help me to express ‘less illusion and more Soul.’” (S&H 247:31-32)  I also pondered the following lines from Hymn 9, which we had sung at church the previous Sunday:

“O longing hearts that wait on God 
Through all the world so wide;
He knows the angels that you need,
And sends them to your side,
To comfort, guard and guide.”

On my return, however, a sense of loneliness, grief, and fear of living alone engulfed me.  This citation from Science and Health came to my thought “The Christian Scientist has enlisted to lessen evil, disease, and death; …” (S&H 450:19–20)

In an effort to settle my thought, I thought I should do something nice for someone. I was guided to phone a friend to wish her a “Happy New Year.”  However, on her answering the phone, I sensed that something was not quite right. She promised she would call me back. I immediately called someone I could rely on, expressed my concerns, and asked her to call my friend and advise me if she thought my concerns were valid. She did as I requested and called me back to report that she, too, was a bit uneasy.

I knew I had to get help for this lady as quickly as possible, but had no knowledge of how to contact family members. After a number of phone calls, I was finally able to contact a family member and advise him of my concerns. I drove the short distance to her home, but got no response to my calls. I was alone with God on that street. I cannot recall exactly how I was praying, but I know that I was holding on to the idea of the One Mind.  

After more than two hours of waiting and several more phone calls, I decided to return home, knowing that my friend was safe in God’s care. Later I telephoned her house and was told that her family members had arrived with a house key. Two of the people I had called, including a medical nurse, had also arrived and summoned an ambulance. My friend was taken to the hospital in a diabetic coma. There she received treatment and recovered.

She called me from the hospital to thank me for my efforts. She said that if I hadn’t intervened, no one would have found her until the next day. I reminded her that I was only an instrument used by God; it was God who had protected her during the three or more hours she was alone. I also told her that I had benefited from the experience, as well.

My grief was healed. My friend’s experience showed me so clearly that we are never alone. Living alone does present some challenges, which will be overcome with my understanding of Christian Science. I pray daily to know that God will always take care of me.

In the meantime, I continue to enjoy the love and affection for and from my two other dogs—both strays. I know that Heidi is safe with God, and I am too. Yes, I still shed a tear, but it is a tear of gratitude.