Testimony of Healing August 2, 1913 Issue

I send this testimony with a heart filled with thankfulness...

E. J. Barton

I send this testimony with a heart filled with thankfulness to our heavenly Father for the new knowledge I have gained of Him through Christian Science, and for the good that has come to me and mine. After wandering in the wilderness of material sense for twenty years, seemingly afflicted by every disease that one could endure, unable for several years even to feed or dress myself or walk one step. and having given up all hopes of ever being well in this world, believing it God's will and feeling resigned, I suddenly awoke to the realization of the truth that makes us free. I learned that God is a loving Father, never sending aught but good to His children, never afflicting us for our good, as we have been taught to believe,—and can any wonder that I say, "Bless the Lord, O my soul"?

For many years I had been strongly opposed to Christian Science, but I was gently led into the truth. The scales fell from my blinded eyes, and healing came, both physical and mental. I now realize that all the good I fail to receive results from lack of understanding, and just as fast as I rid myself of all thoughts that are not Christlike, walk in the Master's footsteps, love God supremely, and my neighbor as myself, in a word, as I am governed by the Mind that was in Christ Jesus, health, strength, peace, and joy enter into my life. Truly has our Leader told us that our enemies lie within ourselves, in our thought, and like weeds they must be plucked out. Jesus said, "By their fruits ye shall know them," and my earnest desire is so to live that my life will speak for the Master. I would also say to those whose healing seems to come slowly, Do not be discouraged, for only as the ground is prepared, can the seed spring up. When problems have seemed difficult, I have always found the trouble was with me, not with God; His work is already done. The Bible tells us to work out our own salvation, which means constant, steady effort on our part, also the yielding up of material beliefs for the spiritual and true.

It is a little over two years since the knowledge of this grand truth came to me, and although health and strength have come gradually, it was because I was not in an attitude to receive help faster. I feel, however, that I have learned more of God and how to reflect Him than I would had it all been made manifest at once. I am demonstrating that complete health and strength are ours in Truth. I found, after being in bondage to the belief of sickness for twenty years, that fear was one of my worst enemies; but by knowing the truth, knowing that "perfect love casteth out fear," and by having a little help from a Christian Scientist, this belief has been overcome to a great extent, for which I praise God. I can now walk to and from our meetings and reading-room three times a week, although it is quite a distance from my home. I do nearly all my work and am like a new person. I confront problems daily, meet seeming difficulties, both physical and mental, but have the joy of knowing how to work out of them, for which knowledge we cannot be grateful enough. I know that God gives man dominion, and that we do not have to bow down to fear. I know that we must not sit down with folded hands, expecting God and our practitioners to do the work for us. Each day brings its tasks, and we must watch and pray constantly, and have charity one for another.

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