Christian Science saved my life, and I would like to express my gratitude for all the good that has come to me through it.
Twenty years ago, in 1980, my husband passed on, leaving me to raise three small children. The problems seemed overwhelming: the children were sick, a life insurance check was lost, and finally we were victims of an attempted robbery, which resulted in my being injured by flying glass. Then, just eight months after my husband's passing, I faced the diagnosis of cancer.
Although I was familiar with Christian Science from my childhood, I was too afraid to trust it for healing at first, though I did talk to a Christian Science practitioner before I went to the hospital. After surgery, the test results showed the problem to be worse than expected, and I was given one to ten years to live.
I knew deep in my heart that relying wholeheartedly on God was the only way to be totally healed of this problem. The next day I went to a Christian Science Reading Room and bought copies of Science and Health and the Bible. I read the Weekly Bible Lessons (in the Christian Science Quarterly) in the morning and at night read from Science and Health. When I read this idea in Science and Health, it was as if a light dawned for me: "The so-called laws of mortal belief are destroyed by the understanding that Soul is immortal, and that mortal mind cannot legislate the times, periods, and types of disease, with which mortals die. God is the lawmaker, but He is not the author of barbarous codes" (p. 381).
I realized that this disease was not from God. The next day, I canceled my doctor's appointment. I called the practitioner I had been talking with and told her I wanted to rely on God, and asked her to treat me through prayer. I attended a Christian Science lecture too ill to eat and left feeling so much better that I had Mexican food on the way home.
Eight months after my husband's passing, I faced the diagnosis of cancer.
When the problem would flare up, a Christian Science practitioner would assure me of my perfection and complete safety. She told me not to be afraid, not to be impressed, and not to have time for the difficulty. I tried to do exactly that. Daily, and sometimes hourly, I affirmed my perfection as God's child. Right where I was, I realized, I was spiritual, and God was right there with me.
My greatest desire was to be with my children, and God answered my prayer. I was healed. I returned to teaching school, traveled during the summers with the children, was a Sunday School teacher, den mother, and Brownie leader. I enjoyed every minute I spent with my children. I prayed constantly, thoroughly studied the Bible Lesson each day, devoured the Christian Science magazines from cover to cover, and prayed with a hymn I love in the Christian Science Hymnal. It begins, "Day by day the manna fell" (No. 46). At first, the problems that the children and I faced seemed to be endless, but each one was handled effectively with Christian Science—colds, flu, wasp sting, concussion, impetigo, eczema, a scalp irritation, broken bones, sports injuries, legal and financial problems, just to mention a few.
I am particularly grateful for my parents, who helped me throughout this time, and for the precious gift of Christian Science they gave me. Also, I am deeply grateful for my Christian Science teacher, who lovingly prayed for me any time of the day or night and was there for me every step of the way. "With God all things are possible" (Matt. 19:26).
Safety Harbor, Florida
