Gratitude for the multitude of blessings that have been mine as the result of continued study and application of Christian Science since my first testimony appeared in the Christian Science Sentinel in 1936 impels this further testimony. Because I allowed myself to entertain resentment and self-pity over failures in business, which I believed resulted from no fault of my own, I suffered a severe nervous breakdown. Although I was greatly helped by faithful Christian Science practitioners, who worked for me at different times, and had the assistance of a Christian Science nurse, I was unable to overcome this condition while at home. I was then admitted to the Christian Science Benevolent Association Sanatorium, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. During my stay there I was completely healed.
The lessons I learned while at the Sanatorium were invaluable. Outstanding among them were these: that gratitude expressed and lived is a most effective healing agent, that we are not in the getting business, even when seeking a healing, and that we must learn to be unselfish and express love to others in order to experience the beneficence and healing power of divine Love in our lives. The love, kindly consideration, and compassion of associates at the Sanatorium inspired me to cultivate and put into practice these Christlike qualities in my contacts with others. Since this healing my business situation has greatly improved.
A few years ago X-ray pictures taken by a dentist showed the presence of a cyst behind my two front teeth. The dentist advised me to have the two teeth removed as soon as possible and stated that unless I followed his advice the condition would result in much pain. I resolved not to follow his advice, but to rely instead entirely upon Christian Science. However, because there was no pain at the time, I more or less ignored the condition and for the most part did not do any specific mental work for the purpose of refuting and nullifying the predictions of the dentist. In several weeks the condition was aggravated, and I then began prayerful work to overcome it. One evening I realized that because of the acute physical distress this condition was causing me, I would then and there have to destroy it. I worked as we are taught to do in Christian Science until the early hours of the morning, when I suddenly experienced a great sense of peace as the pain vanished. This healing has been permanent, and the teeth have not been extracted. This experience proved to me that the laws of dentistry can be nullified in the same manner as any other so-called physical law.
