Through the practice of Christian Science, I've experienced numerous healings. Some have come very quickly. Others have taken a considerable amount of time, requiring me to keep praying and not give up. With each, though, healing had to occur first in thought before it was evident physically. I wish to share several healings that took longer and taught me a great deal.
A little over a year ago, as I was unloading groceries from my car, I swung one of the heavy bags out of the trunk with my right arm. The following morning I woke with great pain in that shoulder and along my right side and back. In addition, I discovered that the right arm had become virtually immovable. I telephoned immediately for the prayers of a Christian Science practitioner. I stayed home four days from teaching school. On the fifth day I returned only because district policy requires a medical examination after the fourth day of sick leave. I wished to avoid an examination because I wanted to rely on prayer alone for healing.
The practitioner and I each prayed every day. The first step was to free me of the insidious belief that physical therapy might be required. Since this was not my usual way of thinking, I realized that it was the generally accepted belief that the only way to healing was through reliance on some form of medical or physical help. I knelt in prayer, tears streaming down my face. Repeatedly the words came, "I don't want physical therapy, but divine reality." After some time, I felt the presence of divine Love, God. There was a slight adjustment in my back and the worst pain abated. The impulse to seek medical attention also left at this time.
