I have been a student of Christian Science for over thirty years. My life during these years bears witness to the healing power of God. I was led into this study for the healing of our little one—a so-called blue baby. She had had frequent heart spells for eighteen months, and I felt I could not go on much longer. I prayed every day, finally crying to God: "Take her if You must. I can't stand to see her suffer anymore." The next day a neighbor of my mother's asked if I would try Christian Science.
The day I visited a practitioner, being taken there by this dear neighbor and friend, I told my story between floods of tears and sobs. This dear practitioner asked me to look at her and to believe her. She said, "Your child will never have another heart spell." And she never did.
I took home a copy of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy and started to read immediately. It was a wonderful experience, like lighting a light in a darkened room. I could hardly lay the book down. I knew this was the truth, and I hungered to know God and understand His ever-presence, power, and love.
I had hardly finished the book when wonderful demonstrations followed one after another. Lost articles were found, accidents were averted, and many healings were experienced, one of which was the same child's instantaneous healing of scarlet fever. Turning quickly from the evidence of the fever, I reached up to God as All. Shortly I experienced a feeling of mental quickening, and I knew the healing had taken place.
My husband asked permission to call a doctor. I consented, saying the evidence would be all gone when he came. He was at our home within twenty minutes. After examining the child he said, "This child has every evidence of having had a severe case of scarlet fever; but if that's what it was, it is all over." As he went out of the door he stood a minute, then said: "I don't know anything about this power called Christian Science, but I can't deny the evidence before my very eyes. This is indeed a miracle."
Later I joined The Mother Church and a branch church and became absorbed in wonderful church activity. Although my life had changed completely, not one of my family accepted Science. Ours was a close and loving family. My mother was happy that I had found the faith I needed and had always wanted. Still neither she nor my husband joined me.
About six years later came a testing time. I developed the symptoms of pernicious anemia. My mother had taken medical treatments for this for several years. Although the symptoms were severe, I had no fear. My husband told me how worried I was making him and my mother by not consulting a doctor and said it was not like me to be unkind. As a result, departing temporarily from the standard of Christian Science, I permitted blood tests to be taken and was told that I had an extremely bad case of pernicious anemia and had less than five years to live. If I lived that long, I would be completely paralyzed. A physician outlined a treatment which included eating certain kinds of meat and taking shots and various medicines.
I thereupon took my stand, telling him that I would not eat the meat or take the shots or medicine, that God is more than meat or any medicine, and that He is man's life. The doctor told me that I was going to die, and that he washed his hands of me, saying he would not be responsible for me. I remember saying to him: "Doctor, you are a highly educated, intellectually brilliant man, but all your learning and knowledge is about matter. When that is disintegrated, turned to dust, all your knowledge goes with it. What I am learning is infinite, far above poor mortal belief. It is for now and always. Its understanding is far beyond matter and its limitations. For me to submit to your belief would be to retrograde, and I could not do that."
He said, "You are going to die."
I replied, "I don't think I will, for God is my Life; and I put my trust in Him."
I walked out of his office. My mother and husband followed. When I next noticed my hands, where evidence of the disease had been, they were normal. All the other symptoms disappeared, and I was healed. My mother and husband were healed of their fears and never again asked me to go to a physician. God has sustained me in excellent health all these years. God does not need any help from man. Our beloved Leader, Mrs. Eddy, tells us (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 171), "Trust in Truth, and have no other trusts."
I am so grateful for The Mother Church and our branch churches, for class instruction, and for our practitioners. Christian Science is my life. My prayer is that through humility I may reflect spiritual strength to help others understand this great truth.— Flint, Michigan
