I should like to express my gratitude for the many healings and blessings I have experienced through the study and application of Christian Science. My first healing—that of indigestion, sallow skin, and constipation, which I endured for a number of years—came through reading the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy. It was not with any thought of healing that I decided to read this book, but because truths which I had heard voiced by Christian Science friends had sounded logical and had aroused my interest. I desired to know what it was in their religion that gave them such assurance of God's love and protecting care. After reading only a few pages I became much absorbed in the contents of the book. A few days after I began this reading, it occurred to me that I should buy a certain brand of digestive tablets which I had not allowed myself to be without for some months. I did not get them that day, however, and when the suggestion came to me the next day to purchase them I realized, to my great surprise, that I had not suffered from indigestion since I had started reading the textbook. It was not until then that the profound truth burst upon my consciousness that, as our Leader says on page 219 of Science and Health, "Not muscles, nerves, nor bones, but mortal mind makes the whole body 'sick, and the whole heart faint;' whereas divine Mind heals." I realized that from the moment I started to read the book, my thought had been so uplifted toward God, and so drawn away from self, that my changed consciousness had resulted in the healing of my physical body, which I now understand to mean the healing of a false sense.
Since that time I have never been tempted to turn to material remedies for the healing of any discordant condition, and have had the opportunity many times to prove the truth of Paul's saying, "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace."
I recall particularly an occasion when, upon removing a skillet of hot grease from the stove, the contents were overturned on my right hand. Although the pain was very severe, I immediately placed my hand behind me and began declaring the truth and denying that any condition or circumstance could injure God's child. Almost instantly the pain ceased. When I sat down to dinner and attempted to pick up my fork, I discovered that I could not move my fingers. For the first time I looked at the hand and found it to be very red and swollen. I thought of the three Hebrews who went through the fiery furnace unharmed, and was led to read their experience as chronicled in the book of Daniel. When I had read the record of that wonderful demonstration of the ever-presence of Christ, my healing was complete, and by nine o'clock my hand was entirely normal. Truly, the law of divine Truth and Love is ever available when we are willing to be governed thereby.
