A few years ago when a cousin and I were praying together, she told me about a healing her grandfather had that became our family’s introduction to Christian Science. This man, my mother’s eldest brother, had exhausted all medical means and was healed of leukemia in its final stages through Christian Science treatment.
A church formed in our community, holding services in my uncle’s barbershop. And my Sunday School years began soon after.
A few months before my graduation from Sunday School, my dear Sunday School teacher asked me to ponder and pray about what I had to give to branch church membership. This seemed like an odd idea, as I believed that you join church to get, not give something. But I happily considered it.
A few weeks later, I went far from home to attend a convention. At one of the activities, a dinner and dance, a strong wave of nausea swept over me and I had to excuse myself.
Expecting His comfort and help, I turned to God and silently asked, “Dear Father, help me get to the quiet serenity of my hotel room.”
Crossing the parking lot and going through the hotel property seemed miles long, but I was able to make it.
My roommate later came to tell me that many people from the party came down with a severe strain of food poisoning. Doctors were in the hotel, and she asked if I wanted to see one. I assured her I would be fine, and she returned to the event.
Mrs. Eddy says in Science and Health, “The Christlike understanding of scientific being and divine healing includes a perfect Principle and idea,—perfect God and perfect man,—as the basis of thought and demonstration” (p. 259).
My Sunday School teacher talked about this quote many times, and explained to the class that when this statement is understandingly and faithfully applied to a problem, healing results. I knew I could trust this to be so in my present situation.
At times I lost consciousness, but I kept my thought filled with many beautiful passages I’d memorized from the Bible, Science and Health, and favorites in the Christian Science Hymnal—especially Mrs. Eddy’s poems. The Lord’s Prayer, Daily Prayer, Psalms 23 and 91, the definitions of angels and God from Science and Health, gave comfort and assurance of healing, and I never had the slightest fear.
Praying this way late into the night, I later felt a clear sense that my work was done. The symptoms were completely gone, and I fell into a peaceful sleep. In the morning, I woke up free of all aftereffects.
A friend invited me to breakfast. Hesitating momentarily, I realized that I needed to see that my true identity as a loved child of God, always under His care, had not been touched or affected by this experience. I hadn’t gone through some nightmarish sickness, however real it seemed to material sense. My spiritual perfection is always the truth about me, and remains forever intact and at one with God.
Breakfast was the normal and natural thing to do, so I accepted the invitation. I ate all my breakfast and part of my friend’s. I participated in all that day’s activities freely, without any trace of sickness.
Friends who’d been confined to their rooms for a three-day convalescence period contacted me about a petition to get some kind of settlement from the hotel. But I declined because I was well and strong.
When I returned home, I thought about my Sunday School teacher’s request. Suddenly I realized that what I could “give” to branch church membership is the demonstration of spiritual, scientific healing through the teachings of Christian Science.
Stow, Ohio, US
