Mrs. Eddy writes on page 307 of Miscellaneous Writings: "God gives you His spiritual ideas, and in turn, they give you daily supplies. Never ask for to-morrow: it is enough that divine Love is an ever-present help; and if you wait, never doubting, you will have all you need every moment."
The finding of these lines quoted in the religious article on The Home Forum page of The Christian Science Monitor, and the living of them, changed my life completely. It was my first real look at the Monitor. I pondered that article many hours, and then I called a Christian Science practitioner from the list in the Journal and made an appointment. Such gentleness and compassion I found in that office! The practitioner admonished me in Christ Jesus' words (Matt. 6:33), "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
At home I dug out my copy of Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy, which had been buried for many years, and pored over the first chapter on Prayer. With the help of the practitioner I was quickly healed of smoking and drinking. I was supplied a King James Bible and a current Christian Science Quarterly. In a short time a sum of money came to me from an unexpected source.
This was the beginning of a continued period of growth in spiritual understanding and accompanying good flowing into my daily life. I met a student of Christian Science and we were married. Our home has been blessed with a bountiful supply of good. The greatest blessing was Christian Science class instruction. We are grateful for the ample opportunities to be of service to the Christian Science movement. Everywhere we have lived there have been new paths, opening up new fields of accomplishment. There have been many physical healings along the way.
While living in South Dakota I was healed of inflammatory rheumatism through complete reliance on Christian Science. This was not a quick healing. I had allowed resentment and rebellion against living conditions to build up in my thoughts. This manifested itself in aching, swollen limbs. I did not recognize this experience as an opportunity, a blessing in disguise.
On page 392 of Science and Health Mrs. Eddy cautions us, "Stand porter at the door of thought." Starting on the same page she adds, "The issues of pain or pleasure must come through mind, and like a watchman forsaking his post, we admit the intruding belief, forgetting that through divine help we can forbid this entrance."
I had three small children to care for, and my husband was gone all day. Soon I was unable to do anything. But the angels of His presence once more came to my aid. An aunt who was a Christian Science nurse came to take care of me and the children. I asked help of a practitioner who lived in another state, whom I never saw. She poured in truth and exemplified the love that heals. I studied the Bible and the textbook, Science and Health, every waking moment, and I learned that I needed to express more love, more gratitude.
Through prayer and study, love and gratitude filled my thought, and I was healed. This has been a permanent healing. The faithful study of the Lesson-Sermon in the Christian Science Quarterly has met my every need, and I have not had to spend a day in bed due to illness since this healing.
I love the Christian Science periodicals. Many times problems have disappeared when I have picked up a periodical and read just a paragraph. At one time I stepped on a nail in an old board. My husband and I were picking wild blackberries in an abandoned area. A passage from the textbook, which I had just recently read in an article in the Journal, came to thought. The entire statement reads (p. 228): "The transmission of disease or of certain idiosyncrasies of mortal mind would be impossible if this great fact of being were learned,—namely, that nothing inharmonious can enter being, for Life is God." The part I recalled at this moment was "nothing inharmonious can enter being," and that meant my being. This was so clear to me that the bleeding stopped immediately. My husband wrapped a clean cloth around the foot. By the time we arrived home the evidence of an injury had almost disappeared. This happened Saturday, and by Sunday morning I was at my post in church as clerk, wearing my regular shoes.
I am very grateful to have learned more about the Bible through the study of Christian Science. The Christian Science Hymnal continues to be a source of inspiration. I am deeply grateful to God for revealing the Science and the divine Principle of Christ Jesus' healing works to Mrs. Eddy.
Sequim, Washington
