On the day I arrived home from the hospital for the fifth time in a year and a half, a friend dropped by and handed me a copy of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy and commented that she had felt guided to introduce me to the Christ-healing through the understanding of God, which is Christian Science.
I knew nothing of Christian Science; but since the doctors had just told me again that they found nothing physically wrong with me in spite of repeated attacks of such abdominal and intestinal pain as to necessitate the use of morphine, I happily considered any reasonable avenue toward relief. The condition had previously been explored, tested, and diagnosed by doctors as multiple allergies, and after being put on a diet of no meat and only baby food vegetables, soda crackers, and gumdrops for one year, I had lost so much weight I found my energy inadequate to care for our two children, one aged two and a half and the other not yet one year old.
Because no adequate relief had resulted from this strict diet, I had been given nerve injections, and these so hampered my coordination that I had to go to bed afterward, since I was subject to falling. At the abandonment of this and other procedures, there was talk of an exploratory operation.
I started reading Science and Health and for the next three months found that I could hardly put it down. At the end of that time I decided to stop taking all medication and to rely on God alone for healing. This decision made. I remained in my room that same weekend while my husband cared for the children, and I faced each painful attack with Truth, with constant prayer and affirmation.
I was spurred on by referring to page 218 of Science and Health, where we read: "Why pray for the recovery of the sick, if you are without faith in God's willingness and ability to heal them? If you do believe in God, why do you substitute drugs for the Almighty's power, and employ means which lead only into material ways of obtaining help, instead of turning in time of need to God, divine Love, who is an ever-present help?"
I realized that since God has only good for His children, this pain could not be of God. Therefore it had no real foundation or reality, because only that which is of God does have eternality, reality.
Before the weekend was over, all discomfort and pain had disappeared. I began to eat normal foods, and, in a few days, even popcorn, which I had not eaten for a long time. That was the last of the trouble, and this healing took place about six years ago.
All questions regarding allergies were more than amply answered when a practitioner later informed me these were only mortal, material beliefs and had no real foundation in God, divine Mind. Her words, that divine Mind would not create man in His own image and likeness and then also create foods or weeds and so on that could injure this image and likeness, freed me from all illusion regarding allergies.
The following winter I had an attack of virus pneumonia. This was not a new experience for me. I had had three previous attacks, the first when I was only six years of age. However, the most recent one, which occurred before I had found Science, had brought the comment from the doctor that should there be any more such attacks, I would either have to move to a drier climate or run the risk of not surviving. Consequently, on awakening one night and realizing that decided symptoms of the previous attacks were again present, I immediately became fearful.
Presently, though, the thought came that Truth was just as true now as before, and with it came the guiding thought that God's man, made in His spiritually mental image and likeness and reflecting the attributes of God, cannot know death but remains in absolute perfection of being throughout all eternity. This realization brought peaceful sleep almost immediately, and next morning there was no evidence of the condition.
The practitioner whom I had asked to pray for me through the night shared my gratitude for the healing truth. My joy was mingled with the lovely warmth of realizing the fulfillment of Jesus' promise (Matt. 28:20), "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." I rejoiced that the Christ is always present with its healing truth.
I am so grateful to God for His great mercy and infinite care and for the Christ, which is with us always. I am indeed grateful for the priceless understanding gained through Christian Science of God's Word, which indeed makes all men free. Membership in The Mother Church, as well as in a branch church, has added to my many blessings.— Independence, Missouri.
