In the Christian Science Sentinel of July 28, 1956, the column entitled "Of Good Report" was a reminder of the importance of testimonies written for our periodicals. I realized that, although I have always been grateful for these testimonies and have been blessed through them and the ministrations of Christian Science since it was introduced to me by a student in 1910, I had never sent in a testimony. It occurred to me that I had been richly receiving from our periodicals without giving to them, and we are told (Matt. 10:8), "Freely ye have received, freely give."
I have indeed freely received. My first healing in Christian Science was one of overwhelming and constant fear, a sense of insecurity resulting from a most unhappy childhood. About the first words spoken to me by the one who introduced Christian Science to me were: "God is Love, and Love casts out fear. God is your Father-Mother. Rest in this spiritual fact." These words gave me new hope and courage.
The realization of God as ever-present Love healed me of bitterness toward my stepfather, who appeared to show no love at all. We were both healed to the degree that he later expressed much kindness toward me, and I was the only one of four children that he turned to for comfort during his later years.
