It has been over ten years since my testimony appeared in our periodicals, and the proofs of God's goodness and ever-present care have continued to unfold since that time.
One experience that has been a great source of inspiration Was the healing of grief at the passing of my mother. The circumstances were such that when another relative, who is a Christian Scientist, and I arrived for a visit with Mother we were informed that she had passed on about a half hour before.
Many well-loved and sustaining passages from Mrs. Eddy's writings flooded my thinking at this time so that there was no sense of separation or loss. The conviction that this dear one was continuing to express endless, ageless Life was very clear.
Mrs. Eddy's statement "Undisturbed amid the jarring testimony of the material senses, Science, still enthroned, is unfolding to mortals the immutable, harmonious, divine Principle,—is unfolding Life and the universe, ever present and eternal" (Science and Health, p. 306) was certainly proved true in this instance. The conviction of eternal Life, ever present and ever active, enabled us to go forward immediately and take care of necessary details.
At this point a dear friend, one of my former Sunday School teachers, who is a Christian Science practitioner, arrived, and her love and support were felt not only in spiritual uplift but in many practical ways. One looks back at an experience such as this and says, "What would I do without Christian Science?"
The following is one of many physical healings our family have had in Christian Science.
A few years ago while visiting friends, I was asked to remove a boiling casserole from the oven. I pulled out the rack, which had been inserted crookedly. The dish fell out and overturned on top of both my feet.
The pain was so great that I could not think to say anything at that moment but "No! No!" I was alone and called for someone to clean up the casserole while I went to another room to remove my hose and clean off my feet. I was still in great pain, but very shortly another Christian Scientist came to me and began repeating out loud "the scientific statement of being" from page 468 of Science and Health. The first time it was repeated I didn't feel that I was mentally capable of taking it in; but as the words "There is no life, truth, intelligence, nor substance in matter" were started the second time, I began to repeat the statement myself, and at the end the pain began to leave. In a few moments I said I was ready to go down to dinner.
The next day I was unable to put my shoes on because of swelling, and could not walk freely. I felt I should be at work, and was at first very annoyed. Then, in studying the weekly Lesson-Sermon, I read the Bible verse, "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit" (Gal. 5:25). I saw that if I believed that man is a spiritual idea, a reflection of God, then this must be shown forth in right activity.
As I worked with this statement, the swelling went down almost immediately, and I was able to put on my shoes. Soon every evidence of the experience faded away, and no scars were left.
I am deeply grateful that our family has had the blessings of Christian Science for over sixty years. Thus I was enrolled in the Sunday School at an early age and have had the joy and privilege of membership in The Mother Church and a branch church from the earliest possible time. The spiritual progress which is the result of active participation in church work enables us to meet the challenges that come to us and to go forward into higher and holier realms of thought and right activity.
Class instruction is one privilege that I have found vital to progress, along with the annual association meeting, which keeps us abreast of the spiritual needs of our time. How wise our Leader was, and how grateful I am for all the God-inspired activities she so unselfishly made available to each of us!
In the Bible we read, "Behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it" (Rev. 3:8). Christian Science is the "open door" to health, peace, joy, and right activity.
Kirkwood, Missouri
