Twenty-six years ago I was heavily burdened with a difficult family situation and financial problems. I was also physically run-down and suffering with stomach ulcers. At that point Christian Science was introduced to me by a business associate, for whose loving concern I will always be grateful. I began studying this Science, and our family was soon attending a branch church. The disillusionment I felt with different philosophies and orthodox views of God was replaced with a growing understanding of Him as a loving Father-Mother who cares for and sustains us at all times. As I realized that God is the only physician, our family discarded all the many medicines we had relied on and have never resorted to them again.
One day, months later, I realized I was eating every kind of food with no ill effects. Complete healing of the ulcers had come about as the presence of the Christ brought new light to my consciousness and fears were removed. Similarly, two nervous habits that had plagued me from early childhood dropped away with no specific treatment: fingernail biting and a serious speech impediment.
One of my first healings was of a painful separation of the joints at the base of the spine. For five years I had had medical, osteopathic, and chiropractic treatment for this condition, all to no avail. It was suddenly aggravated one morning while I was doing some work in the yard. I fell to the ground in great pain and was unable to rise. Quickly I repeated aloud "the scientific statement of being" from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy (see p. 468), and as I did so I denied that I was a physical being who could be in pain or separated from God. In moments the pain lessened enough so that I was able to get up, go inside, and prepare to take the family to church.
