Testimony of Healing February 20, 1932 Issue

I did not accept Christian Science immediately when it...

Janet M. Bates

I did not accept Christian Science immediately when it was presented to me by some friends, for there was great opposition to it in our home. I wanted to be sure that it taught only the Christian religion, as lived by Christ Jesus. However, I very soon found this to be so, as I studied its teachings and tried to practice them. It has since proved the greatest blessing to my mother, my two sisters, and myself, and my gratitude for it grows daily.

After studying Christian Science for about two years I had a big testing time while at college. In May, 1923, I found I was continually tired, with an aching back and pain and stiffness in one hip. The trouble gradually became much worse, and I grew rather discouraged, as no relief seemed to follow my efforts to know the truth. I asked help from a practitioner, which was very lovingly given. However, progress still seemed slow, and at one time I was forced to stay in bed for several days and was in great pain whenever I moved at all. Acting on the advice of a friend, I visited a doctor. He was unable to diagnose the trouble satisfactorily, but took a very serious view of my case. I relied on Christian Science entirely for healing and asked another practitioner to help me; and faithful work. Soon express my great gratitude for her unselfish and faithful work. Soon improvement was manifest, the pain grew less, and I knew the truth was working in my consciousness. As it was my last term at college and I had to present a certificate of health to the board of education, I again visited the doctor, a fortnight later. He declared my spine was still crooked, my hip out of place; and he wrote down several probable causes, which would have made me most fearful if I had not gained the absolute conviction that all things are possible to God. These words from Isaiah often helped me: "I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight."

I continued to receive Christian Science treatment until about the end of July, when I returned to my home greatly improved. I tried to be always grateful, but sometimes it seemed difficult. However, when I realized that gratitude and receptivity go hand, in hand, and that man truly expresses God and all His qualities, I made more rapid progress, and soon was rejoicing in a greater sense of freedom and happiness. By the end of September I was climbing trees to pick apples, gardening, and lifting heavy weights without difficulty or undue fatigue. I stood perfectly upright.

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