Thirty-five years of dependence on the power and love of God as taught by Christian Science have brought so much good into my life that I wish to express my gratitude in this testimony.
My family first learned of Christian Science when as a small child I was suffering from influenza, mastoiditis, and the results of an unskillful operation to remove my tonsils. Several specialists had confessed themselves unable to cure or to alleviate this last condition. At this point a kind neighbor told my mother what Christian Science had done for her and her family, and we promptly called a practitioner for help. I was quickly healed, and I returned to school in just a few days. All medical aids were then discarded, and my parents and I turned wholeheartedly to Christian Science for all our needs.
Among other healing experiences are these: my father was quickly healed of severe electrical burns; my mother was cured of cancer; and I have been healed of ivy poisoning, colds, so-called children's diseases, blood poisoning, and other ills.
One experience was outstanding. Late one afternoon an automobile door was slammed on three fingers of my right hand. The pain was so excruciating that I could only repeat to myself that "accidents are unknown to God," as Mrs. Eddy declares in the following statement from Science and Health (p. 424): "Accidents are unknown to God, or immortal Mind, and we must leave the mortal basis of belief and unite with the one Mind, in order to change the notion of chance to the proper sense of God's unerring direction and thus bring out harmony." I was unable to move my fingers, but I managed to drive the car with my left hand only.
In a few moments my thoughts cleared a little, and I was able to consider the meaning of the statement quoted above. I reasoned that God, divine Mind, can know no accidents because His plan includes only good. This reasoning became so interesting that I soon forgot the fingers, and upon arriving home some forty-five minutes later, I could use my hand in a fairly normal way.
That evening I was introduced to the new members recently admitted to our branch church, and my hand was quite vigorously shaken by each one. There was no discomfort. The next morning the only evidence of the accident was a few red marks. I could type and use my fingers as before.
Another experience which has been a source of continued inspiration occurred in 1945. I had long wished to visit The Mother Church in Boston, Massachusetts, and when a friend invited me to accompany her, I was overjoyed. However, because of war restrictions, train reservations were difficult to obtain. The day before our scheduled departure I was quite discouraged, but my friend pointed out that I did not need the reservation until noon the next day. So I went home and packed.
The next morning I took my suitcase with me to work, calm and sure in the conviction that God's plan would unfold. Although an early report from the ticket agency again said, "Nothing available," I felt no dismay; and another call a few minutes later directed me to pick up my ticket, which proved to be in the same Pullman and on the same train as the one for which my friend had her reservations. In less than two hours I was boarding the train, confident that my further needs would be met.
My ticket took me only as far as Chicago, Illinois. There I inquired for space to Boston and was informed that nothing was available; but even as he told me this, the ticket agent's phone rang, and there was a cancellation for the right train and Pullman. In Boston we found there had been a misunderstanding about our hotel reservations; but while we were talking to the clerk, a cancellation was received which took care of us beautifully.
In spite of dire predictions about the impossibility of securing train reservations from the East Coast back to the West, we had no difficulty at all. This entire experience has been very helpful when I have been tempted to believe that there was a lack of any good thing or that a healing could be only partially accomplished. Jesus said (Luke 12:32), "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." He did not say, "A portion of the kingdom."
Although I am, of course, very grateful for physical healings, I give thanks to God for a growing understanding of Him, for a constant awareness of His care, and for protection from inharmony of every sort. I am grateful too for membership in The Mother Church and a branch church and for class instruction. For Christ Jesus, who marked the way of Life for us and for Mary Baker Eddy, who gave us Christian Science. I thank God with all my heart.— Lakewood, California.
