On April 21, 1950, I entered a Christian Science Reading Room and purchased a King James Version of the Bible and a copy of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy. I did not do so because I wanted a healing but because I wanted to know more of God and man.
While visiting me the previous day, a friend who lived in another city had introduced me to Christian Science by reading to me a few passages from Science and Health which I found very interesting. I began to find out the truth about so much I had never understood that I also bought a copy of the Quarterly and started to study the Lesson-Sermons in earnest. And I began to attend a branch church, and about a year later I joined The Mother Church.
I have had many healings since that time. Some were quick ones and others took longer, needing more study, a better understanding of God, Spirit, and a better expression of Love. My first healing was that of a badly sprained ankle. It was an instantaneous healing, and I was so thrilled and excited that it could happen to me. I was convinced then and there that Christian Science does heal. I have had quick healings of grief at the passing of loved ones. Family relations have been improved, and new homes have been found.
I should like to tell of a healing of asthma. This took a longer time because I had to get to the bottom of many material beliefs and root them out, and this was very difficult for me because most of the men in my family have been in the medical profession for years. But through the months of my illness the conviction that Christian Science does heal stayed with me.
One night I was experiencing extreme discomfort in breathing and felt I must call the practitioner; but when I reached for the telephone, which was usually on the bed stand, it was not there. A Christian Science nurse was staying in my home with me, and she had taken it into her room so that it would not disturb me. I got out of bed to go to the nurse's room for it, but when I reached her door I was stopped by these thoughts which came very clearly to me: "I will not let error have any power over me. Only God has power over me, and He is the only power."
With that I went back to bed, breathing freely, and went to sleep. This was the turning point, and I improved steadily from then on. I could actually feel God's healing power acting as if I were someone else apart watching the wonderful change taking place. "What cannot God do?" (Science and Health, p. 135.) I never cease to be grateful every day and night for this healing and for all the other ones.
A short time afterward I thought it expedient to dispose of my home, in which I had lived happily for nine years. I knew nothing of the procedure of disposing of property, so I asked for the help of a practitioner. I was divinely led to the right sales agent, the right price was agreed upon, and the sale was made in three days. The house was shown to but one family, who lived in the same neighborhood and who were approved of by all my neighbors. The escrow was completed in thirty days instead of the sixty days allowed, and I found a satisfactory new home very soon.
I should like to say that I had no regrets on leaving my home, though neighbors said it was a shame I had to break it up and start over again in a new place at my time of life. I actually looked forward to the challenge, and meeting it demonstrated how complete the healing had been.
I am deeply grateful for having Jesus' example to follow, for Mrs. Eddy and her teachings, for class instruction, and for our dedicated practitioners and nurses.— Santa Monica, California.
