For almost ten years I suffered from insomnia and took prescribed medications in an effort to find rest at night. Sometimes I used several different medicines simultaneously when taking the drugs separately failed to put me to sleep.
Then, three years ago, I attended my first Christian Science church service. I was so impressed by the love that was shown to me at this branch Church of Christ, Scientist—first of all by the ushers and afterward by the congregation as they welcomed me—that I decided to return the following Sunday. During the week, I lost all need for sleep-inducing agents, and I have enjoyed restful sleep ever since.
A By-Law titled "Prayer in Church" from the Manual of The Mother Church by Mrs. Eddy reads (Art. VIII, Sect. 5): "The prayers in Christian Science churches shall be offered for the congregations collectively and exclusively." I feel sure that the application of this By-Law by the members of the branch church (praying for the congregation during the service) contributed significantly to my healing.
I became a member of this branch church and also joined The Mother Church. Numerous healings came as God's universal law of good unfolded to me. And with the help of Christian Science practitioners at different times, I came to realize more clearly my unbroken unity with God as His idea. I learned to know Him as divine Mind, the only Mind there is—the source of all intelligence.
Recently, I enjoyed the privilege of class instruction in Science, and it was at this point that another demonstration of God's infinite goodness occurred.
I had put off subscribing to The Christian Science Monitor for several reasons, not the least of which was limited finances. For quite a few years I had been spending three-fourths of my income on nursing-home care for a member of my family who is not a Christian Scientist. I felt I couldn't see my way clear to put out a large sum for a Monitor subscription.
Immediately following class instruction I went to a Christian Science Reading Room and took out a year's subscription to the Monitor, in heartfelt obedience to Article VIII, Section 14, of the Church Manual: "It shall be the privilege and duty of every member, who can afford it, to subscribe for the periodicals which are the organs of this Church . . . ." As I wrote out the check to pay for the subscription, I was keenly aware that God is the source of substance and supply. His all-embracing goodness never runs out, and I knew He would not fail me.
Exactly one week later I received a very unexpected phone call offering the possibility of financial assistance for the expenses of the nursing-home care for my family member.
In six weeks, after the applications had been completed and all the legalities were out of the way, I was granted a monthly sum of money to cover three-fourths of what I had been paying for this care. And all moneys received were retroactive to the day I took out my subscription to the Monitor! How grateful I was to realize the rewards of obedience to the Manual By-Laws. Also, to me, it was an example of the healing purpose Mrs. Eddy designates for the Monitor being fulfilled (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 353): "The object of the Monitor is to injure no man, but to bless all mankind." It proved to me that the source of all progress is God and that He maintains each of His ideas with the wealth and abundance of His love.
I am so filled with love for Christian Science and grateful to Christ Jesus, who showed us the way. Our dear Leader, Mrs. Eddy, was diligent in following his example, and so receptive to God's revelation of the Christ, Truth. I'm thankful for the healing message of all the periodicals she established, and for the valuable provision of class instruction.
St. Louis, Missouri
