Testimony of Healing June 8, 1918 Issue

I am very grateful for Christian Science, which came to...

Viola Burger

I am very grateful for Christian Science, which came to me four years ago. When I was about eleven years old, I was accidentally thrown on the edge of a step while playing, and sustained an injury to my hip. It did not trouble me much until about eight years later, at which time I began to feel severe pain. I was employed in a hospital, so had skilled physicians and the best of care for over a year; but my condition kept getting worse, so at last I decided to consult a specialist outside. He treated me very carefully with the aid of several other well-known specialists for eight months, but I still grew weaker. I was then told I could not be cured unless I submitted to an operation, which I knew would mean to be a cripple. It was at this point, after all material means had failed, that I turned to God. The only Christian Science practitioner I had ever seen, or knew of, had moved to another city, so I wrote her a letter and asked for absent treatment. Just two weeks from that day I was healed, and able to return to my position. I was very thankful for my healing, and also for the understanding of the truth that came to me in such a short time.

I also wish to tell of a healing that took place about two years later. Mrs. Eddy says in Science and Health (p. 373), "The fear of disease and the love of sin are the sources of man's enslavement." Before coming into Christian Science I had a great fear of appendicitis, and always was afraid it would kill me if I had it. One day, while on a pleasure trip, I was suddenly seized with a violent pain. The old fearful thought came to me, and I grew worse every minute. I started for home immediately, but was scarcely able to stand up. As I did not seem able to help myself, I asked my husband, about three o'clock in the morning, to telephone for a practitioner. Not being able to get one, he sent for a doctor who was a friend of the family and who knew I was interested in Christian Science. He came three times that night and three times the next day, claiming my condition to be very serious. I then received word that my practitioner had returned home, so I dismissed the doctor after thanking him for his kindness, as he himself could do nothing more for me; indeed, he told my family that I could not live more than forty-eight hours.

The practitioner arrived about seven o'clock that evening and stayed with me all night. When she came my fear left me, and the pain also subsided, so that I slept a little that night; but she had no more than left the house in the morning when the fear and pain returned, worse than ever. I tried to treat myself, but it seemed of no avail. An hour later I was just between life and death. Some one of my family asked if I wanted a doctor and I said, "No, I leave all to God." Then the twenty-third psalm came to me: "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me." I said to my family that I was not afraid, because I knew that God was with me. Fear was destroyed, I stopped doubting and trying to do all myself, and left everything to God, with the result that I was instantaneously relieved. Two hours later I was sitting up in bed eating breakfast, and in a few days I was strong again.

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