Testimony of Healing January 23, 1909 Issue

I gratefully submit my testimony to the healing power...

Grace D. Ely

I gratefully submit my testimony to the healing power of Truth. In the spring of 1903 I was very much run down, as well as discouraged and despondent. I thought each day that I must give up my position, feeling I had not strength enough to continue in it. My family advised me to give it up, but I wished to finish the term's work of teaching. An aunt of mine, a Christian Scientist, wrote often that she could help me through her understanding of Christian Science, but I repeatedly declined her help. I soon realized, however, that I must have help of some kind or give up mu position, and as I had lost faith in medicine, I reluctantly wrote her to give me treatment. She sent me a Christian Science pamphlet to read, and began to treat me. The results were most gratifying. Two troubles of ten months standing yielded almost immediately. With the healing came a joy and peace that I had not experienced for a long time, and life, which before had not seemed worth living, took on a brighter aspect. I gained in flesh. and came back to my work with a desire to study into Christian Science. I left my former church friends, who were very dear to me, and went alone to the Christian Science service, not being acquainted at that time with any one who was interested in this subject. I read, studied, and pondered. I made some progress, though I sometimes slipped back into the old ways.

For many months previous to this experience, I had suffered severely with boils. One had lasted two weeks, although it was lanced and dressed every other day, all of which was very painful. At this time (in January, 1905), to my surprise and dismay, an ugly carbuncle manifested itself on my face. The crucial moment had arrived. Should I have it lanced as of old, only to have another appear, or should I have Christian Science treatment? I wanted to be healed, and I felt that Christian Science could heal me. When the time came that the physician would have said the carbuncle was ready to be lanced, I went to a Christian Science practitioner. She talked to me with assurance, and gave me treatment. I left the house with no pain and the swelling greatly reduced. I knew I was healed, and did not feel that I needed any more treatments, but the practitioner gave me two more, until all trace of the trouble was gone.

My gratitude was unbounded. Here was a healing power indeed—and how good it was to know that disease can be destroyed without the use of the surgeon's knife! Then my study of Christian Science began in earnest. It had been proven to me beyond a doubt that Christian Science heals, and with the healing came a great desire desired to "study thoroughly the letter and imbibe the spirit" (Science and Health, p. 495), and so be worthy of the name Christian Scientist. It is good to adhere to a religion that heals the body, but I am more grateful for other benefits which have come through the study of Christian Science. First it teaches us how to love our neighbot as ourselves. It gives us a God we can understand; it teaches us how to 'pray without ceasing," for prayer is the consciousness of God; it makes "a new creature" wherein old things pass away, and best of all it awakens an interest in the Bible never before dreamed of. The Bible becomes our constant companion, and is truly a "sufficient guide to eternal Life" (Science and Health, p. 497).

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Testimony of Healing

Christian Science means more to me than a healing...