With joy I receive the Sentinel each week, through which...

Mary B. Reim

With joy I receive the Sentinel each week, through which we get so much that is good and are enabled to apply the truth successfully for our benefit and encouragement. My gratitude impels me to contribute a mite to its columns, by giving a demonstration which proved to me the unspeakable love and mercy of God in the healing of a poisonous snake-bite.

One Sunday evening I stepped into the yard in my bare feet, and at once felt that I had been bitten by something. Procuring a lamp, I searched and found a rattlesnake a foot and a half long, which I at once killed. My husband, who is not a Christian Scientist, was not informed of the occurrence, as I knew he would insist on my using material remedies. We live about six miles from town and from the home of the nearest Christian Science practitioner. It was therefore clear to me that I must work alone with God. I treated myself the best I could all night long, but nevertheless the limb seemed in a terrible condition Monday morning. I, however, did all my regular farm work, and succeeded in concealing my condition from my husband that day. I kept my thought fixed steadfastly on God all day, declaring that He alone is our help in time of trouble. A young girl from the neighboring farm, who had been helping me all the week, saw the snake and declared that I would lose my foot if I failed to apply the customary material remedies; but I reassured her and requested her not to mention the occurrence to my husband. In spite of my caution, however, he saw my condition on Tuesday, as I was preparing to drive to town with vegetables. His ange was aroused and he spoke bitterly of my depending upon Christian Science. I replied that if he would let me alone I would be all right. My heart was full as I drove to town, and the lines from the last verse of Hymn 92 in the Christian Science Hymnal kept coming to me again and again, "God's will is done, His kingdom come," etc. Each word seemed full of healing power, and stayed with me as I climbed in and out of the wagon selling produce. The swelling kept decreasing all the time, until by noon I could partly lace my shoe.

After my produce was disposed of I called on a Christian Science practitioner, and requested help to hasten the work, because of the predictions of disaster uttered by many who had seen the foot and doubted the healing power of Christian Science. I also feared that my husband might insist on applying material remedies when I returned home. The practitioner at once gave me an oral treatment, and quoted the Golden Text from the current Lesson-Sermon (which was May 31, 1908). She also read to me the references from Luke 10:1, 17–19; and Science and Health 514:26 to 10 next page; also quoting Isaiah 51:7. This, and one absent treatment the next day, completed the cure, and by Thursday the last trace of the snake-bite had vanished.

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