Testimony of Healing November 21, 1908 Issue

"What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits...

A. M. Jones

"What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me?" Mrs. Eddy tells us in Science and Health, p. 372, that "a just acknowledgment of Truth and of what it has done for us is an effectual help." Christian Science has done and is doing everything for me. Thirteen years ago I was suffering untold mental agony, brought on by a severe attack of nervous illness with all its attendant miseries. There seemed nothing before me but death or insanity. In my extremity I prayed as I had never prayed before, for divine help. I had been blessed with a devout Christian mother, and many a time, when a child, she would tell me of her faith in prayer, a faith so pure and simple that oftentimes there would come marvelous answers. Remembering how often this dear mother had been helped in time of trouble, I turned with all my heart and soul to that "unknown God," whom I was blindly trying to petition for aid. During the whole of one long night I poured out my soul in prayer, and towards dawn there came to my yearning consciousness these words, "Try Christian Science." It was as though an audible voice had spoken the words, and immediately there fell upon my storm-tossed sense a sweet calm, as though an angel had touched me. Summoning my husband and nurse to the bedside, I told them I must have help from Christian Science, that I felt there was nothing else that could save me. They listened in smiling incredulity, but I persisted in my request to have a practitioner called in as soon as possible. Yielding to my entreaties, although against his inclination, my husband sent for a Christian Scientist.

Towards evening the practitioner came, and I waited with expectant longing for what would follow, for I felt intuitively that this was to be the answer to my prayer. One verse of Scripture was given me to meditate upon while the treatment took place: "In him [God] we live, and move, and have our being." Then the sweet hush that had come to me in the early morning again stole over my consciousness, and with it a beautiful sense of rest and peace unutterable. My weary eyes, which had not been closed in natural sleep for many a long day and night, became so heavy I could not keep them open, and when the half hour's treatment was over I sank into a profound sleep which lasted until nine o'clock the following day. During this sleep I dreamed that I was standing upon a very narrow plank of wood which bridged a muddy river torrent. On one side of me was a light so intensely brilliant that I could not look at it; on the other side was inky darkness, peopled with innumerable demons which were struggling to get at me. If I turned to the light, it seemed as though I would be blinded; but the darkness appalled me with its hideousness. Surely this was a foretaste of the mental conflict between the human sense of truth and error, of light and darkness. When I awakened I found myself a well woman, able to get up and have breakfast at the table, much to every one's amazement. My own joy and gratitude were unbounded. I must know this great truth for myself, and a copy of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" was purchased and eagerly devoured.

As I look back over those thirteen years since my healing, it seems as though my progress has been very slow. Mountains of selfishness have obstructed my pathway, and valleys of suffering had to be crossed, and I have surely learned that "it is easier to desire Truth than to rid one's self of error" (Science and Health, p. 322). Mrs. Eddy's grand example of steadfast courage and unwavering obedience to divine Principle is as a beacon-light in this steep ascent upwards. My one prayer is that I may be found worthy the name of Christian Scientist.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

"What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits...

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access