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Recently, when I walked out to my garbage area, it was quite windy. As I was closing the door to this enclosure, a sudden a gust of wind caused the heavy door to hit my foot with great force. It was very painful.

I turned immediately to God in prayer, and what came to me was the Scientific Statement of Being (found in Science and Health, page 468.) It reads:

“Question.–What is the scientific statement of being?
Answer.–There is no life, truth, intelligence, nor substance in matter. All is infinite Mind and its infinite manifestation, for God is All-in-all. Spirit is immortal Truth; matter is mortal error. Spirit is the real and eternal; matter is the unreal and temporal. Spirit is God, and man is His image and likeness. Therefore man is not material; he is spiritual.”

I affirmed each line as the truth of my being, and I knew it was the present truth, in spite of appearances. I struggled back to my condo and up seven steps with great difficulty. The foot started to swell. When I got inside, I couldn’t walk further, so I crawled on the floor. My cat knew something was wrong because he had never seen me crawling in his territory before. He was very comforting and licked my face.

I opened Science and Health by Mary Baker Eddy to page 468 and pondered the three great questions asked on that page:
What is the scientific statement of being?
What is substance?
What is Life?
[Here is a link to that page, so you also can read how Mrs. Eddy answers those questions.]

I affirmed each statement: Since there is no life, truth, intelligence, nor substance in matter, then I am not made of matter, and therefore cannot have a broken or hurting matter-foot. Spirit is what defines my genuine being. I am spiritual, right now. I declared that this is the truth, and believed it with all my heart.

By the time I went to bed, I no longer was eye-to-eye with the cat on the ground. I could walk a bit and was able to put some weight on the foot. I had a restful night’s sleep, and in the morning, I was able to walk normally and without pain. It was as if the injury had never happened, and in God’s sight, it never did.

I am so grateful for Christian Science! It can meet any need, any time, anywhere.
Thank you, God!

B.V.V.

We were really looking forward to our trip to Africa. It would be our third trip, and we were really looking forward to it. But as the time was getting closer and closer, I was having a problem with an incessant cough. It was quite constant during the daytime but fortunately I could sleep at night. I was having help from a Christian Science practitioner to solve the problem but it was being very stubborn. My husband, who is not a Christian Scientist, got me a variety of medicines and I even tried those, but nothing seemed to change. My prayer was to understand that since God is All and God is good, this cough was not true in the infinitude of God’s goodness.

We were scheduled to leave on Saturday, and on Monday night I went to a Christian Science lecture. The speaker shared many helpful ideas, but one story really stood out to me. She told about a brash young reporter who decided that he wanted to interview Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of Christian Science. Mrs. Eddy was in her late eighties and there were stories circulating that she was not mentally alert. When he called on her, he said, “Tell me what this cult Christian Science is.” Mrs. Eddy’s response was, “Christian Science is the absolute acknowledgement of the ever presence of infinite perfection.” When he heard that statement and felt the conviction in this woman’s voice, he quietly left and asked no more questions. Some time later, he was in the military and was wounded. He remembered Mrs. Eddy’s statement and he repeated it to himself. He found himself instantly healed of his wounds. (Church records in Boston authenticated this information.)

That statement really spoke to me. I wrote it down and repeated it many times to feel the power of its truth. In the morning my husband said, “You’re not coughing!” That was absolutely the end of it. I never had any reoccurrence on the trip, which was wonderful, and I was so grateful to feel God’s power and presence that healed a very stubborn problem.

BW

Some years ago, I found myself becoming increasingly ill with symptoms associated with flu. It was mid-winter, and we were having a record cold snap. I found myself spending many hours outside trying to prevent freezing pipes from breaking at neighbors’ homes. It seemed a largely futile task, as it just kept getting colder each night, and the days were not warm enough to thaw out the uninsulated pipes. I was feeling worn down.

One morning, I felt so sick, I could scarcely move around safely, much less think or pray coherently.  I felt like all I could do was go back to bed, but instead I called a Christian Science practitioner for help. After hearing my woes she reminded me that God is Love and that my experience was, from God’s perspective, an illusion since he did not create illness. After reassuring me of these simple truths, she said simply, “You go back to bed; I will pray for you.” I was a bit startled with the brevity of her response, but I did just that.

I recalled that the words influence and influenza, or flu, and all stem from the same source. I reminded myself that God is the only influence governing man. Abiding in God’s kingdom, I could only be governed by a loving God and not other people’s thinking, either well-meaning or fearful.

Shortly after waking in a few hours, I felt clearly what had been divinely true all along about my condition. Since God could not create illness, something unlike himself, it could not have power over me.  As his creation, I was entirely spiritual. I was a perfect and immortal child of God. These simple thoughts were sufficient to quiet my fear, and make me aware in some small degree of God’s presence, caring for me, then and there.  The flu symptoms were disappearing.

I called the practitioner again to tell her my progress. I was able to function normally by noon, at which time my friend, with his large plumbing tools, came to my house to tell me he had temporarily repaired my water pipe. It had broken in half in the freeze, sending fountains of water down the road behind my house.  I had been busy helping others, and then I got blessed too! By the next day, I was able to attend church and to drive several hours to visit someone including a hearty dinner. The healing was complete. I am grateful to be learning that God, good, is in charge, and that healing is a side effect of becoming more God-like.

CHK

I’d like to share an experience that proved to me without a doubt that God’s law heals, even in dire circumstances.

When my husband and I were expecting our first child, we went to a local doctor for prenatal care. He took a blood test and came back with the news that I had Rh-negative blood. He said this would not be a problem for this present child, but would, after childbirth, cause harmful antibodies to form that would attack the blood of any subsequent children, causing them to be weak, still-born, or needing a total blood transfusion upon arrival. But, he said, I was fortunate that in recent years, medical research had figured out how to avert this disaster by administering a particular drug to the mother within twenty-four hours after childbirth. He warned that without this, we should count on only one child.

These black predictions were extremely alarming to me. We were preparing for the arrival of this child, the first of four, we hoped, with the spiritual support of a Christian Science practitioner. She prayed for me, and I prayed with a depth of need I had rarely faced before. I realized that nobody would blame me for taking this drug if I felt that were best–and I realized that perhaps most expectant moms would gladly run in that direction. However, being a life-long student of Christian Science and having witnessed many times its healing power, I was more inclined to turn to God to heal this condition rather than to drugs. I mentally protested against the proposition that a mix of chemicals had more power to protect life than God, who is Life itself. I vigorously claimed God’s allness, omnipotence, and infinite capacity to maintain of His creation. By the time our son was born, we had moved, and the doctor who first alerted us to this condition was not on the case. I felt a sufficient certainty that I could trust God on this that I did not take the drug. The midwife who helped us with the birth was not aware of the situation, and the birth was a normal one.

My husband and I continued our prayer. When we found ourselves expecting again about a year later, I knew I needed to focus single-mindedly on the spiritual facts about this second child and me. Daily I strove to see more clearly that God is the sole Creator, and that He/She lovingly cares for all He/She creates. In God’s eyes, I was not the source of that child’s life, and I therefore could not be its destroyer. God already knew and loved this precious little one, and I strove to understand this more clearly. God’s law of love overruled any supposed law or action of malicious antibodies. We were grateful for the continued support of the Christian Science practitioner.

I was praying much, but I was sometimes so beset by fears that I couldn’t tell if my prayers were being effective. About two months before our second child was to arrive, the message at a Wednesday evening testimony meeting spoke directly to me. The Biblical account from John 4: 46-53 was read, in which a desperate dad pleads with Jesus to heal his son, who is at the point of death. Jesus says, Unless you see signs and wonders, you will not believe. The dad renews his request for help, and Jesus says, Go thy way; thy son liveth, and the dad goes home. He is met with the wonderful news that his son is fully well.

I realized this seemed my situation exactly. The dad at Jesus’ feet had to believe, trust Jesus’ words without seeing, and go his way. I also could trust what the Christ had been telling me for the past year and a half without having it confirmed physically. It felt like the Christ was right there saying to me, It’s going to be all right, because it is already all right! The fear lifted.

Very shortly after this we made arrangements with a doctor to assist us with a home birth. We requested no blood tests, and he was willing to honor our request.  He was not aware of my blood type.  Our daughter Rachel arrived safely, sound, and whole. There was no vestige of any blood problems, and the doctor pronounced her in perfect health. Again, I chose not to take the drug after this birth, choosing to continue God-reliance.

A year and a half later, this decision to stick with God’s view and authority was blessed in the healthy arrival or our third child. When our fourth was on its way, we arranged with a midwife in the area to help us, as the doctor who helped with the middle two children had moved. She asked me directly if I had Rh-negative blood, and I replied yes. She took a blood test, and it confirmed that although I had this blood type, the predicted pernicious antibodies had never formed after any of the three births. The fourth child arrived safely and in excellent health.

This experience of learning to trust God to fully sustain and care for His children has been a beacon to our family throughout their growing years. It has been a solid rock of conviction that God’s care is the safest and surest in any circumstance, and we as a family saw this borne out repeatedly in quick healings of many problems, including illness, burns, and broken foot bones. I thank God for His goodness and tender loving care, and offer this experience in hope that it will help someone else.

A.L.K.

A few years ago I was fly fishing in the mountains of South America during a particularly windy week when there were dust storms and wind gusts reaching 50 to 60 mph. The strain of casting heavy lines into the wind one day caused my shoulder to give out with great pain and very limited movement during the rest of the trip.

When I returned home I found that even with rest, the shoulder grew no better and restricted my tennis, fishing and other activities. I attempted some physical rehabilitation but my range of movement was so limited that a physical trainer recommended that I consider an operation to correct what seemed to be a severe injury to my rotator cuff. I really was forced to either tackle the problem through prayer or seek a medical solution. I chose prayer.

Christian Science teaches that man is not a material body but the spiritual reflection of God, so in my real, spiritual being, I embody all the same perfect, painless and free movement that God creates and expresses. The CS textbook states: “Mind is the source of all movement, and there is no inertia to retard or check its perpetual and harmonious action.” (p 283:4). Since my concern was lack of normal movement in my shoulder, I realized that I needed to change my whole concept of movement from focusing on the interaction of physical parts, subject to injury or limitation, to a spiritual concept of movement, as the unrestricted and harmonious movement expressed by the divine Mind.

My daily prayer was to consistently see that any opposing thoughts, of pain or fear of limited movement were only false beliefs, acting themselves out in my human consciousness. My prayer was to have confidence that I could change these false beliefs, as effectively as I would be able to erase the incorrect answer on a test and substitute the correct one. The belief of limited movement was not part of my real spiritual identity, and hence it couldn’t have power over me.

The healing of the shoulder took place over a period of months. At first it was hard to hold to the correct view of movement, when it seemed that there was still considerable restriction. (One of the unintended but positive consequences was that in this interim period I taught myself to cast with my other hand, which has since proved to be an invaluable skill.) But after a few months, I noticed that my range of movement had markedly increased, and soon I was able to play tennis and fly-cast without limitation.

I am exceedingly grateful for this healing, not only for the physical change, but for the confidence and lack of fear that it has given me in facing the full range of issues that seem to confront one on a daily basis.

J.S.

The recent passing of my husband proved to be an opportunity to grow spiritually in my understanding of man’s true identity as a spiritual idea of God. I glimpsed the spiritual fact that identity is not in a material body that can be destroyed and disappear from one’s sight.

The Bible tells us, “God created man in his own image,” (Gen. 1: 27) Thus man is truly one with God and can never be separated from Him. As I began each day with the words from a hymn by Mary Baker Eddy, the discover of Christian Science, “Shepherd, show me how to go… I will listen for Thy voice lest my footsteps stray…”, I was guided in carrying out the needed tasks.

I tangibly felt divine Love surrounding me. Love, thoughtfulness, support poured forth from God, who is Love, expressed by family members, friends, acquaintances, sometimes in unexpected ways. This presence of divine Love obliterated grief and brought an overwhelming sense of gratitude to God. I realized my husband was going forward with God in peace and that the qualities such as kindness, love, generosity, steadfastness which he expressed would always be with me.

I am deeply grateful that the study of Christian Science illuminates our paths bringing peace, comfort, guidance and God’s abundant love.
N.H.

I recently was invited to an artist friend’s home for luncheon, along with another artist friend. My hostess’ husband is from India so she has learned to cook Indian food. I was offered me second helpings, and I eagerly ate. The food was delicious.

A couple of hours later, we were looking at her paintings and discussing mine, when I began to feel very uncomfortable. I thought I had stuffed myself, & that was the cause. I started to feel weak & dizzy, and felt I could not stand upright. I was seeing double, so I sat downi I tried to figure how I could leave graciously, but wondered how I would drive my car. As I sat there, I began saying to myself the Scientific Statement of Being from Science & Health, by Mary Baker Eddy: “There is no life, truth, intelligence, nor substance in matter…” and I felt that maybe I could leave the group discretely without anyone knowing my situation. By then, I was able to drive my car, and when the radio turned on, they were talking about the current Ecoli & bad spinach situation.

I realized that one of her dishes was a spinach casserole. I laughed at that, because this lady would NEVER buy spinach in a plastic bag. She does everything from scratch. And there was no power in a plastic bag to harm me; no power in unwashed spinach to harm me; no harm in anything that God made, and God made EVERYTHING! There is only one power and that is God, good. There is only one source, and that is good, and nothing but good can be real.

I was able to drive my car to my church, where I had an important item to tend to. By then I was no longer seeing double, and I was able to walk in a straight line. By the time I arrived at my home, I was perfectly well. And extremely grateful!

I so appreciate the lessons we learn in Christian Science, and how God is caring for us continually. What a blessing we have in Christian Science!

J.P.