"O sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord, all the earth" (Ps. 96:1). How surely this beautiful psalm mirrors my gratitude for Christian Science. Coming from what is called a broken family, I have found that understanding God as perfect Father-Mother has grown more meaningful each year. It has taught me that there is indeed one "universal family, held in the gospel of Love" (Science and Health, p. 577). And this truth has brought much peace and progress.
As a high-school sophomore I came to live with my mother, who sent my sister and me to the Christian Science Sunday School. Although I didn't know it at the time, I was ready for the beginning of a "new birth." Blessed with some talents, but unstable and confused, I found that the teaching I received in Sunday School began a lifelong leavening process. There were struggles with inconsistency and self-centeredness, but, gradually, Truth strengthened my understanding. At one time during my senior year, I quit school and went to live with my dad in another state. This was an unwise and impulsive move. But, through the prayers of my family and Sunday School teacher, I realized that I must return to finish high school. This I did with real blessings in both academic and musical activities.
During three years of service in the Army paratroopers in World War II, I experienced remarkable protection. Here again, much prayer supported me. The Mother Church kept track of my location, and, at one time, while I was taking jump training in New Guinea, I received correspondence from an Australian Wartime Minister. This loving contact from my Church was very encouraging! Later, I came out unscathed from an artillery barrage in Southern Luzon in the Philippines. I know that this protection was the result of prayer.
It has been my privilege to be married to a dedicated student of Christian Science. We have been mutually blessed in working out the problems of rearing three fine children. We have seen healings of an ear infection, severe burns from chemicals, the effects of a badly wrenched leg, blood poisoning, menstrual pains, a broken leg, need for right employment, and many other difficulties.
One of our children was healed of a painful ear infection when we kept our treatment very simple and childlike, as the Christian Science practitioner had suggested. When my wife and I became more childlike ourselves, wholeheartedly putting our trust in God, our youngster responded favorably and was soon free. We learned that healing in Christian Science is not a labored, anxious process, but the simple, tender love of God, always embracing His children in perfect health and safety. The healing has been permanent.
The problem with blood poisoning yielded to prayerful treatment by a practitioner and my own prayers. Prayerfully studying the weekly Lesson-Sermon in the Christian Science Quarterly, I was finally able to eliminate the fear and hence the physical effects. I learned also that I must refuse to accept any belief of matter as substance, to maintain more purity of thought, and to hold fast to the fact of Mind's allness and man's perfection as God's reflection. I was back to work in about three days. This healing has also been complete.
The need for employment was met when I saw more clearly what a Christian Scientist friend pointed out to me: that God would guide me to the place He intended for me. Then I realized that I was already in my right place; I couldn't be anywhere else. This happy thought relieved my anxiety, and I was soon offered a fine position that blessed my family and me for ten years.
Through all of our married experience, my wife and I have been able to work together in Christian Science, to be active in branch church membership, and to grow continually in love and appreciation for Christ Jesus and for our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy.
Kirkland, Washington
