Christian Science was first brought to my mother's attention by a neighbor over fifty-five years ago. My mother thought it a beautiful religion. She purchased a copy of Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy and began to turn to Science for healing whenever there was sickness in the family.
At that time a young sister was having alarming attacks of croup at night. Relief came quickly when a Christian Science practitioner was called; and in a very short time the attacks ceased altogether.
Soon after this another sister and I were healed overnight of scarlet fever. The city health department had quarantined our home in accordance with their laws at that time; but we were having help from a practitioner, and after the second day we were well, and we played in our own yard during the remaining weeks of the quarantine.
A number of years ago, when he was a boy of fourteen, a relative was given up by the doctors after he had had two operations for a bone disease. The doctors finally said that the bone was tubercular and that the patient could live only a short time.
Although the family knew little about Christian Science, the boy's mother, in desperation, stopped at the home of a practitioner as she walked home after hearing the physician's verdict. Treatment through prayer was given by the practitioner, and in a short time the boy was completely healed.
For a number of years I had suffered from an extremely acute recurring pain, which was accompanied by other alarming symptoms which are commonly associated with liver or gallbladder trouble. Relief was experienced each time I called a practitioner; but the pain returned frequently.
At last, during a very severe attack one night, I did not call a practitioner but retired; and instead of trying to lie in a position in which the pain was less acute, I lay in a position in which the pain was greatest. I declared the truth with every breath and kept thanking God that there is no matter, that all is Spirit and spiritual. I gave no heed to symptoms; I paid no attention to what the name of the trouble might be or what might be the cause of it.
After I had spent hours joyously and persistently thanking God for the above truths, the pain left; and, glorious fact, I knew for a certainty that I was healed and would never have that trouble again. In the morning I told my mother that I knew I was healed. And I was. Never again did that pain or any of the symptoms return.
When our daughter was in high school, she received a deep, jagged cut clear across the back of one hand. Every time she closed her hand, the cut would break open and bleed, although we tried various ways of keeping it closed. After nine days it had not even started to heal. We decided it was time to ask for the help of a practitioner. One treatment was given, but the next day the cut was no better.
A piece of clean gauze was kept over it loosely, to prevent the comment of schoolmates. However, that day the physical education teacher asked to see the cut; and after looking at it, she said to our daughter, "You had better be doing something about that." Our daughter said she thought to herself that we were doing something, but not what the teacher meant.
That night a second treatment was given by the practitioner. The next morning our daughter came out into the kitchen and said, "Mother, look at my hand."
Not one sign of the cut was there, except for a few flecks of dried blood. Not a single evidence of a scar was present. One could not have told which hand had been cut. Yet the piece of gauze which had been put on clean the day before showed that the cut had bled in the past twenty-four hours.
I am profoundly grateful for the healing of migraine. For many years I was laid low every few days. With the help of a faithful practitioner, I always received temporary relief; but the attacks kept recurring.
At last I became able to take a definite stand against them myself. Before, I had not seemed to be able to fight back successfully against the arguments of pain and illness. But now I found myself able to face the error without fear and to take a strong stand for the truth of my spiritual selfhood; and I could dismiss the error summarily and with conviction. In a short time I was completely free, and for many years I have not known what it is to have a headache.
Many years ago I was healed of diabetes. The diagnosis was made at the time of a series of antenatal physical examinations. When a second examination in the series was given, the doctor looked very grave and said the condition was worse. He took from his drawer two lists of food and gave them to me—a list of foods which he said I could eat, and another list of foods which he said I must never eat again. He knew that I was a Christian Scientist.
As I left his office, I laid the two lists on his desk and said: "Either Christian Science heals, or it doesn't. I believe that it does." I left the lists on his desk and went home, but I was filled with fear.
I picked up a copy of the Journal and began reading in an effort to calm my thought. As I read I saw clearly that when we begin with God, it is impossible to experience anything but good and therefore impossible to have an incurable disease or any disease at all. I spent some time reading and studying, and I lost every vestige of fear. I was sure I was healed.
When the third and last examination of the series was given, the doctor was astonished, for he could find no trace of diabetes. Four years later, at the time of another necessary examination by the same doctor, no trace of the disease was found. This healing took place about thirtyseven years ago.
I am grateful for the good that Christian Science is bringing to all humanity today, for class instruction, and for the further inspiration and instruction we receive at our annual association meeting. It is impossible to put into words my gratitude to God for Christ Jesus, for Mrs. Eddy, and for each step that has made possible the great blessing of the revelation of this healing truth to the world.
Vida, Oregon
