Testimony of Healing November 16, 1918 Issue

About eight years ago, while walking some distance in...

Jesse L. Sanders with contributions from Laura A. Sanders

About eight years ago, while walking some distance in melting snow and mud one day, I contracted a severe case of sore throat. On my arrival home I immediately took my copy of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy and began to read in an effort to free myself from the condition. After reading several hours, however, I seemed to grow much worse. While suffering severely I called a Christian Science practitioner on the telephone and little by little told him what was the matter and asked him to treat me. He told me to repeat the "scientific statement of being" from our textbook (p. 468), and that he would give me treatment. After about half an hour the meaning of this passage began to come to my consciousness, and I realized that I was contemplating the true sense of being and not a physical body. Instantly also came the realization that the pain was gone and there was no swelling. I arose and went into another room and drank a glass of water without experiencing any discomfort. I was entirely healed and free from fear. I slept all night, went about my work as usual the next day, and have not suffered from the trouble since.

After years of struggle with business failures, discouragement, and all else that goes with such a mental state, I found myself entirely without money, without credit, rents past due, and absolutely no visible income with which to provide for my wife and two small children. One day when darkness seemed almost to encompass me, I walked several miles from my home out into a big woods all alone. There with eyes uplifted I gave up all my human efforts to do anything more and turned my affairs over to the Father of all, to take care of and show me what to do for all time to come. In a few moments a great peace came to me and these lines from page 21 of "Retrospection and Introspection" by Mrs. Eddy: "It is well to know, dear reader, that our material, mortal history is but the record of dreams, not of man's real existence, and the dream has no place in the Science of being." In a few moments more this passage from "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 307) came also: "God gives you His spiritual ideas, and in turn, they give you daily supplies."

Then I saw that this mortal with all his past history of failures and mistakes is not the man in God's image and likeness, that the real man is a spiritual being, perfect and harmonious; and I realized what my work or business really was,—to express at all times this man of God's creating. I began the return home filled with joy with my new sense of things, while on the way reasonable thoughts began to come to me to start a small lunch room, for I understood something about the business, and in it could possibly reflect God's perfect man where it would do good to more people than anything else I could do. What I had to sell could be clean and good, and I could be cheerful to all who came in, reflecting kindness to every one. I could reflect every minute some quality of God's man and there was no limit,—it would never be exhausted,—and this of course would be to reflect prosperity.

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