Testimony of Healing February 26, 1921 Issue

Having received so much help from the testimonies in...

Mary Beatrice Austin

Having received so much help from the testimonies in our periodicals, I desire to tell a small part of the blessings which Christian Science has brought into my life, in the hope of helping in return. A little over five years ago, in desperate need of physical healing, and as one catches at a straw. I for the first time attended a Wednesday evening meeting at the Christian Science church in London, of which I am now a member. I knew nothing of its teachings, but a practitioner whom I met, seemingly by accident, on seeing my great need, lovingly invited me to attend. I at first felt that I would rather go on suffering than benefit physically by a false doctrine, and it was with reluctance that as a last resort I decided to accept her invitation. I was weak and ill after a very serious operation which the specialist had been unable to finish, as he was afraid to keep me under the anæsthetic any longer, and informed me that I would have to undergo another severe major operation, although he said I could never be really strong. Every specialist I had consulted had said this; they were all most kind and sympathetic and would have helped me if they could. The health of another member of my family broke down, and as I had been leading an invalid's life for about sixteen months, I felt that I could not return home to continue to be a useless burden and expense.

At this first testimony meeting, it seemed as though divine Love were speaking directly to me through the Bible passages read from the desk, and this, together with the sincerity and love manifested by those testifying afterwards, convinced me that Christian Science must be the truth for which I had reached out in vain all my life, and I asked my friend to help me with Christian Science treatment, to which she lovingly consented. My thought, however, was so weighted down by the memory of what I had suffered from operations and medical treatment, that I could not understand a word of Mrs. Eddy's textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," and often read a sentence dozens of times before any meaning was conveyed to me. I persevered, however, and at last a little light began to dawn, so that about the ninth night of study I realized that I was reading without the glasses which, owing to astigmatism, I had needed for reading since childhood. I had the oculist's prescription ready in order to obtain from him stronger glasses, as I had been suffering a good deal with my eyes and could not see to thread even a darning needle at this time. I have never worn glasses since that night, although my eyes have been put to severe tests. With this illumination of spiritual sense, I arose from my bed and made a bonfire of all my prescriptions and threw away all my medicine bottles and material remedies, knowing that I should never need any of them again.

One of the most comforting things about Christian Science is that truth is instantaneous; in a few days I was walking long distances without fatigue, and in a very few weeks was working hard in an office. Instead of being a burden on my dear ones, to my great joy and through the leading of divine Love, I took a flat in London on a five years' lease, where I have been able to entertain them on their visits to town. I am so grateful for my home and for the blessings, too numerous to mention, which Christian Science has brought into my life. I have taken care of my flat without a maid, besides doing a long day's work in an office, without missing half an hour from my work for reasons of health. I am deeply grateful for the quick healing of a severe attack of influenza which came in the middle of the night when I was unable to ask for help. This was entirely overcome in two hours through the study of the chapter "Christian Science Practice" in Science and Health; also for the instantaneous healing of a badly sprained ankle, the healing of chronic throat trouble, a weak back, and acute neuralgia. Great as these physical benefits are, they are relatively small when compared with some measure of practical understanding, in the light of Christian Science, of the great truths of the Bible, and the purification of thought and unfoldment of good in human experience. My desire is to reflect more and more love and to help others to find the truth which makes free and thus to express, in some measure, my deep thankfulness to God and to Christ Jesus the Way-shower, and my gratitude to our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy.

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