More than fifty years ago my husband asked me to let him call a Christian Science practitioner after material medicine had failed to heal me of a condition of toxemia. He had witnessed his father's healing of heart trouble through Christian Science treatment several years before I met him. His father had been told by doctors that he had six weeks to live. He enjoyed forty-five more active years as an earnest student of Christian Science.
I knew nothing about Science but agreed to my husband's calling a practitioner. The prayerful treatment brought immediate peace and comfort and inner conviction that I would get well and live. From that day I have depended solely upon Christian Science for healing—physically, mentally, financially, and spiritually.
My complete healing which followed made me want to know what had healed me. So began the greatest adventure anyone can experience—the study of Christian Science and its application in the human scene. My equipment for this life adventure was the Bible, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mrs. Eddy, and Mrs. Eddy's other writings.
As healing followed healing and I grew in spiritual understanding and the love of God, my next steps were membership in The Mother Church and in a branch Church of Christ, Scientist, and class instruction.
The most outstanding healing during many years is the growing understanding of my relationship to God and the spiritualization of my thought. Mrs. Eddy writes in Science and Health (p. 272), "It is the spiritualization of thought and Christianization of daily life, in contrast with the results of the ghastly farce of material existence; it is chastity and purity, in contrast with the downward tendencies and earthward gravitation of sensualism and impurity, which really attest the divine origin and operation of Christian Science." Physical healing always followed deeper consecration and a sincere desire to purify consciousness—to be Christlike.
Our daughter, when in the fourth grade, became afflicted with what I believe would be called Saint Vitus's dance. She was unable to attend school, feed herself, or talk. This was my first opportunity to apply Science to heal another. My fear was overcome by turning the child over to her Father-Mother God. The condition was not improved when Thanksgiving Day arrived. We decided, in spite of the physical appearance, to attend the Thanksgiving service in our branch church. She sat between us, unable to sit still for one minute. I declared the power and presence of Truth right there to heal all present. We were sitting in the third row. During the singing of the solo the soloist looked down at us and enveloped the child in love. Soon my daughter touched me, saying clearly, "Mama, isn't that beautiful?" She was healed and returned to school the following Monday. All of the symptoms of the malady were gone.
Mrs. Eddy writes (Science and Health, p. 427), "Nothing can interfere with the harmony of being nor end the existence of man in Science." I also perceived through my study man's coexistence with God, eternal Life. When my husband passed on at an early age, these truths comforted me. I felt the joy and comfort of clearly seeing and knowing that nothing destructive had ever touched his true being. I was healed of grief. A practitioner had said to me, "Remember, dear, 'thy Maker is thine husband.'" (Isa. 54:5.) Clinging to this promise, I found true support, companionship, and strength. Employment was secured in a short time and continued uninterrupted for twelve years, when I resigned to devote time to work in Christian Science.
A few years ago, when the news media were giving out warnings and information about cancer symptoms, I found myself manifesting such symptoms. Great fear overwhelmed me and there was constant pain. One day the thought came to me to reverse the information concerning disease symptoms and think instead of the seven synonyms for God found in Science and Health (p. 465): "God is incorporeal, divine, supreme, infinite Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Truth, Love." I also studied Mrs. Eddy's definition of "fear" (ibid., p. 586): "Heat; inflammation; anxiety; ignorance; error; desire; caution." Daily for about three months I spent time replacing in my thought each of these terms meaning "fear" with a synonym for God. I found the references for study in this prayerful work inexhaustible. I also studied the seven poems by Mrs. Eddy used as hymns in the Christian Science Hymnal. The hymns enriched my understanding of the synonyms for God. The search was inspiring and uplifting. I don't know exactly when the disease symptoms faded away, but I was healed. The blessing of this healing was in growth Spiritward.
The true meaning of supply came to me after much prayerful study when I saw my work in Christian Science as helping to fulfill an important function of The Mother Church, protected and sustained by its great love. Warmth, joy, gratitude, and a deep love for our dear Mother Church filled my heart. The peace gained has never left me. Truly I knew that God would supply all my needs "according to his riches in glory" (Phil. 4:19). Each year has unfolded more of the divine goodness and love.
I owe much gratitude to God for practitioners, friends, and kind relatives for their love and understanding support; and for Christ Jesus, the Master, and Mrs. Eddy.
Olympia, Washington
