Testimony of Healing April 27, 1907 Issue

It is now nineteen years since I first heard of Christian Science

Belle Tholen

It is now nineteen years since I first heard of Christian Science. A very dear friend of our family, who had been an invalid for years, was healed through it. This seemed very wonderful to us, and from that time on our family felt a kindly interest in Christian Science simply through what it had done for our friend. It was about a year after this that we had an occasion to see a proof of the healing power of Truth in our home. My brother's wife, shortly after the birth of her babe, became dangerously ill, and this condition continued for almost five weeks without any relief. Our family physician, whom we all loved and trusted, was unable to furnish relief, to say nothing of healing the condition. One morning when an unusually severe attack was manifesting itself, the doctor was sent for in haste, and my mother in her distress called in a neighbor who had begun to investigate Christian Science a few weeks before. It so happened that a Christian Science practitioner from Leavenworth was at that time visiting at our neighbor's home, and the two ladies came to our house together. The Christian Scientist, seeing the distressed condition, asked if she might try to help my sister-in-law until the doctor arrived. It was some time before he came, and when he did come he found a condition that he never had before—his patient was quietly sleeping. The Scientist turned to the doctor and said very gently, "Doctor, I do not believe the lady will need your attention this morning." When informed what had been done, he was thoroughly surprised; in fact we were all startled. There was never a return of this disease, and the patient is to-day a living witness to the healing power of Truth. My brother was healed of an intermittent fever that he had had since childhood, and my mother of severe stomach trouble. All of this was within a few weeks of the healing of my sister-in-law.

Two years after this we moved away from our good neighbor who had helped us over many rough places; but in all this time we had never seen a copy of Science and Health, and supposed it must be for those who studied Christian Science with a teacher. In 1891, shortly after my marriage, I was visiting in Chicago, and was stricken with a serious illness. Four weeks of constant attention by one of the best physicians in Chicago found me very little better, for complications had set in. It was finally thought best for me to be taken home, and in order to accomplish this I was kept under the influence of morphine until I arrived at home. The change made some difference in my condition, and upon my arrival my husband's physician was called in. After months of suffering I was able to be out for a short time, but for almost two years was under the constant attention of this physician. When I would see the efforts put forth by the physician, my husband, and all those around me with such poor results, my thoughts would often go back to the time when Christian Science did so much for us. I would often think if I could only get hold of that book, just to see what was in it. We had occasion to move, and very fortunately for me we found ourselves across the street from a Christian Science practitioner, while my mother and father were next door. I would lie in bed and often wish I were able to go across the street and talk with the practitioner. My father was taken very suddenly with lung trouble one night, and after a consultation decided to send for the Christian Science practitioner instead of a doctor. He was helped immediately, and the day after was well, without any bad effects whatever. The practitioner loaned them a copy of Science and Health, and they finally purchased one.

It was not long before my mother brought Science and Health to me, and I am sure I soon learned that I had the "pearl of great price." I cannot say that I merely read Science and Health; I studied it night and day, and I noticed that I was gaining in strength each day. The understanding came slowly, but I gained in health rapidly, until one day, about four weeks from the time I first read the book, I awakened to the fact that I was well,—the pain that had been my companion so long was really gone. Words can never express what this means to me as I look back and think of it. I knew from that hour that if God was able to relieve me in four weeks, something doctors had been trying for two years to do. I would not be afraid to trust Him forevermore. I threw away everything I had in the form of medicine (and it was legion), and have trusted God ever since. I am most thankful to say that I am enjoying the best of health and have since the time I was healed. During this time I have had several severe ailments present themselves, but I passed through them with little difficulty, and regained my health soon after. I have never had any return of the original trouble. In the years since 1893 I have found the power of Truth sufficient to meet and overcome every trial that has presented itself. I am very thankful to God, and to Mrs. Eddy, for the truth that sets free.—Mrs. Belle Tholen, Leavenworth, Kan.

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