Christ Jesus’ words, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32), continue to deepen in meaning for me. My mare had a beautiful filly in the summer of 2008. Both horses were boarded at a farm that wasn’t my own. A couple of months later, one of the farm owners notified me that this filly was lame and not putting any weight on one of her front legs.
As a student of Christian Science, I was used to turning completely to God for help and healing whatever problems arose. So in this case, too, I opened my thought to the nature of God’s creation to seek healing. I immediately affirmed my understanding of the real spiritual identity of this horse, with God, Spirit, as her only creator.
The farm owner decided to call a veterinarian because she was concerned that the horse might have a broken leg. The veterinarian took an X-ray and reported that there was no broken leg, and he could not find what was wrong. I was told that the filly could be taken to a horse clinic for further diagnosis, or we could just “wait it out” and see if the issue cleared up. It was clear to me that the best choice I could make was to continue my reliance on God and expect healing. And so I declined to schedule an appointment at a horse clinic, and continued in prayer.
I also began to visit the farm once a week. During these visits, I was inspired to go into the stall with the mare and her filly, where I gave Christian Science treatment by turning my thought away from accepting what was materially apparent, and instead affirming that God was beholding this filly as His spiritual creation—whole and free. And as God’s reflection, I could only truly behold her in this way too.
I kept up with these visits and leaned on God throughout. I claimed the spiritual reality of God’s Father-Mother love tenderly upholding all creation, including this little filly. It was also clear to me that I needed to challenge the belief that being spooked is a big part of horses’ experience. I could see that such fear was not inherent in God’s creation, because God is omnipresent Love—and there can be no other state of being than Love and its beautiful, confident creation.
During that fall, I called for Christian Science practitioner support off and on. I remember one practitioner telling me that God was governing everyone and every creature at the farm. While there didn’t seem to be any change with the filly’s leg, she became more inquisitive and friendly with me. And the mare was so patient and gentle with her filly, despite being kept in the stall more than normal so she could nurse. When it was time to separate the two for weaning, it happened easily. I was grateful for these signs of progress, which I knew were the effect of Christian Science prayer.
In December, I received a phone call from the veterinarian, who told me that I should consider putting the filly down; he was concerned about the filly’s future because she had not used all four legs in so long. I spoke to the farm owner about this and said that I believed in the power of prayer, and she replied that she did too. I also told the veterinarian that I did not want to put the filly down.
In the new year, I continued to pray consistently about this situation. One night it became very clear to me that God was divine Principle, and this filly was God’s idea. In Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy answers the question “Is there more than one God or Principle?” by saying, in part: “There is not. Principle and its idea is one, and this one is God, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent Being, and His reflection is man and the universe” (pp. 465–466). With Principle, there is idea, and with idea, there is Principle; the two are inseparable. I knew from my own practice of Christian Science that this was the scientific divine law, which could be proved through healing.
It was soon after this realization that I received a call from the farm owner. She told me that the vet had come by and looked in on my filly. He had not seen her for some time, and thought he should look again, believing he would have to call me to reiterate his earlier recommendation to put her down. The farm owner said that the vet was amazed by what he saw. The filly was putting some weight on her leg. She also told me that it came to her to put the little filly out in the pasture with a really calm horse for companionship, which she believed would encourage the filly. I continued to pray, affirming divine Love’s sweet government and control over every single person and animal on that farm.
In early summer, I received an email from the farm owners with a video of my filly galloping normally with her pasture buddy. I was moved to tears, and my heart went out with gratitude to Father-Mother God for Her tender ever-presence! This filly is now a mare that beautifully trots and gallops with the other horses.
For me, this healing was a further illustration that Christian Science is truly scientific, and that it is always operating, even when the human eye cannot yet see its effects. I am so grateful to have experienced this proof of the healing power of God.
Marilyn Baum
Princeton, New Jersey, US
