Testimony of Healing June 14, 1924 Issue

I cannot tell in one testimony all that the truth, as taught...

Agnes Ratcliffe

I cannot tell in one testimony all that the truth, as taught in Christian Science, has brought to my family and to me. It has indeed replaced with light the darkness of years. From early childhood I was troubled with my stomach; and before my marriage I had many attacks of its ulceration. After I becam a mother, the suffering from the stomach was terrible. To get relief from this I took laudanum for a period of three years, and then realized that I had acquired the drug habit. In addition to this, a very loose condition of the bowels had developed. During the next seven years I had treatment from five physicians, took four courses of treatment for the drug habit, besides going to a well-known surgical institution—without any favorable results. To say I was very much discouraged and felt self-condemned is to put it mildly. I seemed to be going through a veritable hell of torture in mind and body.

During a part of this time, owing to the difficulty I had in getting the drug, I resorted to a much advertised patent medicine to get the narcotic there was in it. On some days I would have to get from eight to twelve bottles a day to quiet the appetite. The heavy expense connected with this added more suffering to the experience I was already going through, as owing to poor crops we could not afford money for this purpose. At last my brother called on a physician from whom I had received three courses of the drug cure. He said he had done all he could do, and advised him to have me try Christian Science, much to my brother's surprise, as he was opposed to it. The physician remarked that the medical men often had to take off their hats to the Christian Science practitioners. My brother wrote that it would not harm me anyway; and I was glad to try anything that offered some hope of relief.

I then secured a copy of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy and began treatment. I was helped by the work done and the talks with the practitioner; but again became discouraged, and went for five weeks to a "divine healer." As soon as I returned home, however, the appetite returned. I then went to another Christian Science practitioner; and through the patient, gentle work that was done I was kindly encouraged day after day, and helped above the constantly recurring attacks of fear, doubt, and discouragement. Owing to my previous association with medicine,—for I had had considerable nursing experience,—it seemed more difficult to grasp the teachings of Science. I am indeed grateful to be able to say that I have been entirely freed from the desire for the drug; and the trouble in both the stomach and the bowels has been overcome. I am now able to do all my own work in the home, as well as to help in the usual routine of work about a farmhouse. My friends and neighbors recognize that Christian Science has brought a wonderful healing to me. I am very grateful for the physical help, but the spiritual uplift that has come with it is grand and beautiful.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

I cannot tell in one testimony all that the truth, as taught...

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access