Testimony of Healing April 3, 1926 Issue

In the spring of 1919 a great sorrow came into my life

Ella C. Palmer

In the spring of 1919 a great sorrow came into my life. I was nearly crushed. Having been a church member for many years and active in its various departments of work, I could not understand why God should allow me to be so terribly afflicted. One day, in opening my Bible at random, I asked that I might be directed to some comforting passage, and the first verse of the ninety-first psalm met my eyes. For weeks I held to that verse, trying to claim the promise.

In writing to my brother, who had been a student of Christian Science for several years, I asked him a question as to the belief of Scientists along a certain line of thought that was continually running in my consciousness. In reply to my question, he sent me a copy of the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, and also a Christian Science Quarterly. Some dear seeker for the truth may be helped by knowing I was not pleased with the book when it was received, but laying it down remarked, "That book will mean nothing to me, for my religion is based on the Lord Jesus Christ, and nothing can shake it." But the thought came that I was not manifesting a Christian spirit in refusing, because of prejudice, to read something which my brother had sent to me out of kindness—as I knew nothing of the book, excepting the criticisms of it which I had heard. So I decided to read a bit here and there,—enough to enable me to make some comment when writing to my brother,—and then lay it away, out of sight, and forget it. But the first paragraph which caught my eyes on opening the book was something regarding our living in good thoughts. Nothing in the whole book could have so arrested my attention as did those words, for I knew I had not been living in good thoughts since that sorrow came to me. Then I turned to that wonderful chapter on Prayer and read on and on, frequently comparing some assertion with the Bible, thus proving that our beloved textbook is indeed the "key" to the Scriptures.

There have been numerous physical healings. The most prominent one was the healing of gallstones, of which I had had several attacks; also, an attack of pleurisy was healed within a short time after calling a practitioner. But the great spiritual uplift has been more than all else; and I know that Christian Science came to me in direct answer to prayer for a closer walk with God. I was led through deep waters of affliction in finding this "pearl of great price." I am very grateful for the understanding of the Scriptures which I have gained through the study of Christian Science, that enables me to apply God's law in working out the problems of life. I am grateful for the revelation given to Mrs. Eddy; for membership in The Mother Church; and to the kind friends who have helped me to grasp this great truth.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Testimony of Healing

I did not come to Christian Science for healing, but to...