When I was a small girl, a relative spoke to my parents of Christian Science. Although they did not accept Science, the talk made a deep impression on me. Later when I was grown and married, I saw the King James Bible and the textbook, Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy, on a friend's table. I looked at them and immediately knew that Christian Science was the religion I wanted. The next Sunday I went to a Church of Christ, Scientist, and soon enrolled our three children in the Sunday School. I also began to study the weekly Lesson-Sermon in the Christian Science Quarterly.
Six months after beginning the study of Science I suddenly became ill. We were on vacation in a hotel. My husband called for a doctor, who decided that I had a sudden attack of kidney pelvis inflammation. A diet and several medical treatments were prescribed. I had had this condition before. After the doctor left, I knew I would rely on Christian Science. At my request, my husband asked a local Christian Science practitioner to help me through prayer. He explained that I would rely completely on Christian Science for healing. The practitioner agreed to take the case, and the doctor was told of my decision.
I felt happy to be able to prove for myself that Christian Science is the truth. I made an effort to sit up in bed and sing. In Science and Health I read (p.390): "When the first symptoms of disease appear, dispute the testimony of the material senses with divine Science. Let your higher sense of justice destroy the false process of mortal opinions which you name law, and then you will not be confined to a sick-room nor laid upon a bed of suffering in payment of the last farthing, the last penalty demanded by error." These sentences led me to a more spiritualized way of reasoning. Especially helpful was the allegory on pages 430-442.
In three days I was completely healed. Our two eldest children were also healed of tonsillitis. A doctor had said they needed an operation. No special prayerful metaphysical work was done to heal this condition. These children had always been under medical care, but after their healing they were never ill.
During almost forty years I have had many healings, including those of a broken finger, a broken collarbone, a sprained ankle, and many others.
A short time ago I felt pain in my breast. My first thought was that because man is really spiritual, God's image, he cannot suffer pain, and the pain left. But later it returned and I noticed a lump in my breast. I had already seen that only what God has made is true and it is always good. The pain ended as I refused to accept the wrong picture of a suffering mortal. I felt free. A few days later the lump disappeared.
I am very grateful for the relative who spoke to my parents of Christian Science and for all the activities of The Mother Church and the branch church, in both of which I have membership. Serving in church activities has brought many worthwhile lessons and growth in my understanding of how to live as a Christian Scientist. I am thankful for the practitioners, who are always ready to help us in the most loving way, for the Manual of The Mother Church by Mrs. Eddy, which provides for all the activities of The Mother Church, for class instruction, and for Mrs. Eddy, whose pure life prepared her to give us Science and Health in which she has explained the Science Christ Jesus exemplified for the world.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
