Love had healed me

Several years ago, I began having symptoms of weakness that prevented me from walking or even standing. I only wanted to be in bed. I didn’t eat anything and was unable to rest well. Because of this condition, I couldn’t even think properly; therefore, it was very hard for me to pray, which is how I heal my problems.

My husband was very concerned, and asked me to see a doctor. I didn’t want to worry him further, so I agreed. The physician did some blood tests, which indicated a serious deficiency of certain types of cells in my blood. They wanted to hospitalize me the same day and do some blood transfusions. I refused to accept the diagnosis and asked my husband to take me back home.

In my study of Christian Science I had learned that my true identity is spiritual, that I’m a perfect idea of God; therefore, such a diagnosis could not be true, but an error that I could heal through prayer.

When I got home, I called a Christian Science practitioner. As I felt weak and was unable to read much, she asked me to think about the Lord’s Prayer, the prayer that Christ Jesus taught us. Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, offers the spiritual sense of the Lord’s Prayer in her book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures (see pp. 16–17).

While I was thinking about this effective prayer, some sentences came alive to me, such as: “Give us this day our daily bread.” The spiritual sense is: “Give us grace for to-day; feed the famished affections.” Applying it to the problem I was trying to heal, I realized that “our bread” also means the “substance” that God gives to us daily, such as the love that God has for His children.

Science and Health answers the question “What is substance?” by saying, “Substance is that which is eternal and incapable of discord and decay.” Farther on it is added: “The spiritual universe, including individual man, is a compound idea, reflecting the divine substance of Spirit” (p. 468). I reflected on this and realized that I cannot lack substance, because the substance of my whole being is spiritual; therefore, I am perfect and sound, as God made me. And it is divine Love that answers our longings and takes care of our human needs, so we can lack nothing at any moment.

In Isaiah, I read: “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness” (41:10). This helped me feel embraced by God’s love.

The practitioner also asked me to think about a hymn, written by Mrs. Eddy, titled “Mother’s Evening Prayer,” which I knew very well. The hymn says in part:

I felt those words were talking to me, that I was God’s child, and that He was taking good care of me and lifting me up.

I kept on praying and pondering these ideas for about a week, until one day my husband noticed that my countenance had regained its natural color, and told me that I seemed to be healed. I assured him that I was feeling well, but he insisted that I should go back to the doctor for a last checkup. He said that way he would feel more at peace.

The doctor was very surprised because the tests showed that I had double the needed cells necessary to be fine. He asked me if I had taken any iron supplements, and I told him that I hadn’t. Then I asked him if he believed in God. He said that he did and that he also believed in miracles. I explained to him that I didn’t know if what had happened to me was a miracle or not, but that I had no doubt that the love of God had healed me.

This was a very important experience for me, because I was able to prove that God, infinite Love, doesn’t abandon us at any moment or in any situation.

I’m very grateful to Christ Jesus for the unconditional love he expressed to all; and to God for the harmony that prevails in my home. I’m thankful that I enjoy abundance of supply, good thoughts, and loving words.

Susana Beatriz Rivarola
Buenos Aires, Argentina