Testimony of Healing April 16, 1932 Issue

I remember first hearing of Christian Science when I was...

Elsa L. Downing

I remember first hearing of Christian Science when I was a small child; but the little I heard was mistaken, so that a wrong impression remained with me. But, as Mrs. Eddy says in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 266), "Spiritual Love will force you to accept what best promotes your growth;" so when Christian Science was next presented to me I accepted it enough to be healed of insomnia, the antagonism disappearing as I gained a greater understanding of the truth that makes free. This first healing also made me realize the great necessity of denying every error when it is presented, as it resulted from a friend's unvoiced correction—denial—when I went to her room about midnight saying I could not sleep. I slept that night as I had not done for nearly a year, waking refreshed and rested. Seemingly I had been on the verge of a nervous breakdown; had gone without sleep for as long as six days and nights in succession, and had then started the bad habit of taking a drug to induce sleep, until at times this drug had no effect, and I was growing desperate. Losing faith in drugs and being willing to "try anything," I went to this friend and asked for help, which she lovingly gave. She asked me to read in the textbook while she gave me a treatment. I turned the pages, reading a few words here and there, but nothing attracted my interest until on page 494 the following words seemed to stand out as though printed in capital letters: "Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need." By dwelling on this and being grateful for each particular experience of God's loving care in my life, I was soon healed, became interested in Christian Science, and began studying.

There have been many healings since then, but the one that stands out most prominently and continues to give encouragement was the healing of influenza and of an after effect which seemed more serious. As so many of the employees in our office were out I worked for days when it seemed impossible to sit up or think clearly; and when one Sunday came I was unconscious nearly all day, waking on Monday about noon to find a practitioner in my room. A friend had sent for her. In a couple of days the fever was gone; but suddenly I found it hard to breathe and had coughing spells which left me unconscious for a couple of hours. The practitioner could not be reached, but she had promised the day before that she would try to come in about noon. The superintendent of the Young Women's Christian Association where I was then living insisted on having the doctor see me, and when I refused she said she would have to send me to the hospital, as she could not be responsible for me. But I pleaded to be left alone, and a little after one o'clock the practitioner came. When I tried to speak to her I started coughing, so she immediately began to work for me and the coughing spell stopped instantly and never returned; the other disagreeable conditions were healed also. The next day I was up, and I returned to the office the following Monday.

I am sincerely grateful to the faithful practitioners who so lovingly help and teach us; for membership in The Mother Church and a branch church; for the hymns, which are ever a source of help and comfort to me; and for all the Christian Science literature, so wisely provided by our beloved Leader.

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