Although brought up in a Christian Science home, it was many years before I came to see the futility of dependence on material means for fulfilling one's normal desires and ambitions and finding a harmonious way of life.
Failing to find satisfaction in an earlier marriage, in employment, or in religious experience, I was eventually led back to the study of the Bible and the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy. These have proven to be a tower of strength and a guiding light in every aspect of daily life and have brought steady progress toward a more stable and harmonious employment.
A fuller understanding and a more spiritual sense of home have brought, in a marriage to a student of Christian Science, the companionship that comes through the sharing of class instruction and church work.
One experience has proven conclusively to me the efficacy of Christian Science treatment in overcoming the effects of accidents, and it is for the purpose of expressing my heartfelt gratitude that this testimony is offered.
One day, while doing a job on the outside of my house, I fell twenty feet head foremost onto a paved area, striking an oil tank on the way down. The children who had been playing nearby ran to get help; and when I regained semiconsciousness, I was aware of being told to arouse myself. A friend and fellow church member who had been visiting with my wife in the house was speaking to me. It was some time before the practitioner I wished to engage, who lived in another city, could be reached, but the prayerful work of friends was entirely adequate to support me in the meantime. Later that evening the practitioner was reached by telephone and gave me treatment immediately. To mortal sense, I had a serious wound in the head, plus damage to ribs, ankle, and wrist.
This accident happened on a Thursday evening. By Sunday I was able to attend church with my wife, and on Monday was back at work. The wound by then required but a small patch, and the complete healing took some time, but progress was steady and without inflammation or serious infection. Eventually the scalp was drawn together, without stitches, and new hair has grown out to completely cover the small scar.
Throughout this experience I was grateful for the sense of security which comes from the realization of God's ever-present omnipotence and the nothingness of all that would oppose itself to His government. This was truly an awakening experience for the entire family and has resulted in great progress in the understanding of Science for us all, dispelling the seeming limitations of physical inability and lifting thought to understand the infinite possibilities of man.
As our Leader, Mrs. Eddy, states on page 232 of Science and Health, "Security for the claims of harmonious and eternal being is found only in divine Science."
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
I wish to add to my husband's testimony my own gratitude for this wonderful proof of God's care in time of need.
At the time of this incident I was in bed, suffering from an asthmatic condition. But when I heard about the fall, I was able to rise and care for my husband without any ill effect to myself.
During the night I slept on the floor, on some cushions, beside the couch in the family room where we had placed my husband, since he was unable to go upstairs to his bed. This was the first time in a week I'd been able to lie flat. During this new challenge my illness was completely healed.
About two in the morning my husband collapsed and seemed to material sense to be passing on. There was absolutely no one to turn to but God. Turn to Him I did. I literally shouted "the scientific statement of being" to my husband—and to myself— and toward the end he joined in and finished repeating it with me. The statement is found on page 468 of the textbook and contains the truth that "Spirit is God, and man is His image and likeness." My husband regained full consciousness then. After singing a few hymns together, we both dropped off to sleep.
I awoke the next morning early to find him looking down at me from his couch with a smile of pure joy and happiness. Later that day he was able to get upstairs and dress, and together we spent a quiet, joyous day of study and rest.
One incident during this trying period was of infinite help to me and brought home so clearly the wonderful teaching our little ones are getting in our Sunday Schools. Our eldest child, seven years old, who had found her father and come to us for help, brought a paper in to him on which was written the following: "Dear Daddy—I love you Daddy! God is with you. Did you fall? NO. God loves you and me. He loves everyone too. You never fell. Love, Sandy."
The words of Mrs. Eddy (Science and Health, p. 393), "Rise in the strength of Spirit to resist all that is unlike good," gave me all the strength I needed during this testing period. The wonderful feeling of knowing that God was right there has remained with me, and our proofs of His care since have been manifold.
For the beautiful healing truth that has been given to us in Christian Science by Mrs. Eddy, for membership in The Mother Church and activity in a branch church, for class instruction, for a happy marriage based on the teachings of Christian Science, and for the joy of rearing our children in this wonderful religion, I am truly grateful. I am so very happy to be able to say I am a student of Christian Science.
