Testimony of Healing May 4, 1929 Issue

When my home was broken up in 1913 I was in a desperate...

Margaret A. James

When my home was broken up in 1913 I was in a desperate state, mentally and physically. It seemed to me then that all that was good had been taken from me, and that there was nothing to live for, although I was devoted to my two children. I had heard something of Christian Science, and in my extremity was ready to inquire further into its teachings. I could not see at first that evil is unreal, nor could I trust the power of God to heal disease; but I was obliged to turn absolutely to God, for there was no help in mortals.

Our baby, who was nearing his first birthday, was taken very ill; and after some weeks, during which he became steadily worse, the doctor attending him spoke very seriously about his condition, giving me to understand that he could do no more for him. Twice we thought the child had passed on. After the doctor's verdict I called for help from a Christian Science practitioner, and through her faithful and loving service the babe was restored to health. This was such a proof to me of the truth of Christian Science that from that hour I turned whole-heartedly to the study of it. In my own case the sense of illness to which I had been in bondage for some years became worse, and I was often overcome by attacks of unconsciousness and other distressing and painful symptoms. These attacks so alarmed my mother, who was not interested in Christian Science, that she begged me to see a specialist. The specialist was exceedingly kind, but held out no hope of my ever being well again. He said I should get progressively worse, and strongly advised me to go in for a course of medical treatment which he said might alleviate the symptoms, although it would not cure me. I refused to consent to this treatment and went on with the study of Christian Science, having help from a practitioner whenever the attacks became acute. Oftentimes I was tempted by depression and discouragement, and I shall always be grateful for the loving patience and compassion of the practitioner in her firm stand for the truth of being. Gradually I was freed from the trouble and finally realized that I was healed. This was over seven years ago, and there has never been a recurrence of any of the symptoms. The healing meant very much to me, for it restored me to a life of activity such as I had not known for years; but it is difficult to express the gratitude I feel for the renewing of the mind which transformed my whole outlook and enabled me to realize in some degree man's inseparability from his omnipotent, omnipresent, ever loving Father-Mother God.

There have been many other healings in my experience since that time. On one occasion, when I was seized by very acute pain, faintness, weakness, and fear, because of a sudden and severe attack, I was healed instantaneously by realizing the truth in the sentence from our textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy (p. 495), "When the illusion of sickness or sin tempts you, cling steadfastly to God and His idea." Mortal mind said: What is it? What caused it? The answer came through the words quoted above, It is illusion: it is nothing: it has no cause. Thought was turned at once to God. The Lesson-Sermon in the Christian Science Quarterly that week was on "God," and all sorts of beautiful statements of truth came thronging into memory to "blot out the images of mortal thought and its beliefs in sickness and sin" (ibid., p. 391). Gratitude made me say aloud, "Who is so great a God as our God?" With that I was able to get up and dress, perfectly well, and feeling like the cripple healed by Peter at the Beautiful gate of the temple when he entered "walking, and leaping, and praising God."