The first statement I remember my mother repeating to me after she had begun reading Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy, is from the Bible, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear" (I John 4:18). My parents had separated, and I had been refused admittance to school that year because of tuberculosis. Knowing the unhappy home situation, the doctor let my mother keep me with her instead of sending me to a sanatorium.
Although my mother already knew something of Christian Science, it was at this time that she started to study in earnest. She had been reluctant to let me get out of bed very much, but the understanding of the verse just quoted from I John lifted our thoughts from fear and discouragement to hope and confidence in God's love for us. The following school year I was enrolled without any difficulty and passed all necessary physical tests to enter school.
Thinking back over the past thirty years, I realize that Christian Science is truly the way of Life, not only because of the physical healings which have taken place but because of the high standards and guidance it has given me and my family.
During World War II my husband completed more than the required number of bombing missions as an aerial gunner and returned home unharmed and unchanged. One of the quotations that I used in praying for him frequently is from "Miscellaneous Writings" by Mrs. Eddy (p. 263): "'He shall cover thee with His feathers.' How blessed it is to think of you as 'beneath the shadow of a great rock in a weary land,' safe in His strength, building on His foundation, and covered from the devourer by divine protection and affection."
We have four children who know from their own experiences that Christian Science heals. About two and a half years ago, when our youngest daughter was two years old, her teen-age sister and a friend brought her home one afternoon from a walk because she was crying and they didn't know why. I discovered that one arm just hung at her side; she had evidently dislocated her shoulder. This was about suppertime.
I called a practitioner and prayerful help was given. The little one was soon relieved of pain, but there was no movement of the arm. Later in the evening I went to the Wednesday evening testimony meeting at church. The helpful readings that evening and the testimonies seemed especially for me.
The next morning, after the other children had left for school, I called the practitioner because I felt at a loss how to handle the child and how to feed her, since she had not moved herself from a lying position. The practitioner's words were reassuring as she told me, "God will guide you as to what to do." He did, and I spent that day studying the writings of Mrs. Eddy and our periodicals and praying.
I found myself feeling that this was an opportunity to prove the healing power of our religion. One of the statements quoted by the practitioner from "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" by Mrs. Eddy was (pp. 307, 308,)"But the divine Love will accomplish what all the powers of earth combined can never prevent being accomplished—the advent of divine healing and its divine Science."
I shall never forget the feeling of being very close to God that day. In the evening, when her father was holding her and singing hymns, the child reached up to touch his face with the hand and arm that had been immovable. Much gratitude was felt by the whole family that night.
There have been many more proofs of the healing efficacy of Christian Science in our family. Among them was the clearing up of a skin condition which covered my husband's body except for his face and hands. A practitioner helped prayerfully for almost a month. The skin became clear, and there has been no recurrence of the trouble.
More recently, when I had severe pains in my back, I was too uncomfortable to move and in such pain that I found it difficult to read or even think clearly enough to pray. After spending the night this way, I telephoned a practitioner early in the morning and received such relief in a couple of hours that I could concentrate on studying the Lesson-Sermon from the Christian Science Quarterly myself. The next day I could move around well enough to accomplish what had to be done in the home. In less than a week I was completely free.
I am grateful for having been able to attend the Christian Science Sunday School for almost ten years. Having Sunday School teachers with whom I could discuss problems and by whom I could have my questions answered helped to give me a firm foundation in Christian Science, and statements made by my teachers are still remembered and helpful.
Through class instruction I learned to appreciate more than ever Mrs. Eddy's place as the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science and the Leader of our movement. I gain more inspiration each year from the association meeting. As an active church member, I feel grateful and proud to be a part of the Christian Science movement, which is blessing so many.
Ridgewood, New Jersey
I am very happy to verify the testimony of my daughter. The healing of tuberculosis was brought about entirely by my reading of the textbook, Science and Health.
My next door neighbor, learning something of the discord and unhappiness in our home, gave me some Christian Science periodicals. After my daughter and I moved from the area, I became eager to have and read Science and Health, mentioned so often in the periodicals. My funds were low, but one day I visited a secondhand book store and found a copy of Science and Health. It truly proved to be the pearl of great price for us. I often read far into the night. As an orthodox church member, I had loved the Bible but had understood little of it. Through the key to the Scriptures the Bible came alive for me.
I am continually grateful for a growing understanding of man's relationship to God. "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32). These words of our Master, Christ Jesus, become more important to me each day. I am truly grateful for Christian Science.
Silver Spring, Maryland
