Testimony of Healing April 29, 1933 Issue

When, more than eighteen years ago, I began to read the...

Mary Francis

When, more than eighteen years ago, I began to read the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, for the benefit of another, it was with a feeling of condescension. I had been an active member of an orthodox church for many years, but I was not satisfied and found no comfort in reading the Bible, having in fact laid it aside. I prayed a little in the only way I knew how, that of pleading with an unknown, far-away God, trying to reconcile Him to my understanding of what is right.

My joy and gratitude knew no bounds when, in helping the dear one study the Lesson on "Doctrine of Atonement" in the Christian Science Quarterly, I read on pages 18 and 19 of Science and Health: "The atonement of Christ reconciles man to God, not God to man; for the divine Principle of Christ is God, and how can God propitiate Himself? Christ is Truth, which reaches no higher than itself. The fountain can rise no higher than its source. Christ, Truth, could conciliate no nature above his own, derived from the eternal Love. It was therefore Christ's purpose to reconcile man to God, not God to man." A sudden glow of light flooded my hungry consciousness, and I knew I had found the root of my trouble and the way out of it. I had been trying always to reconcile God to myself. This revelation gave me courage and a new outlook on life and its possibilities. From that moment I became an earnest, grateful student of Christian Science. I began to understand how to pray and to love the Bible, which of itself was a great joy. I was healed of so-called hereditary rheumatism, for which I was taking medicine when I began reading, of constipation in an aggravated form, pyorrhea, and lifelong headaches, never knowing when the healings occurred. Later I was permanently healed of intercostal neuralgia, from which I had suffered for many years, in one treatment by a Christian Science practitioner in a distant city. There were no Christian Scientists in the small town where I was living. Since that time I have experienced innumerable benefits and healings and constant protection. An outstanding incident of protection was from fear during an accident and the healing of a severed artery, with absolute freedom from suffering from that wound.

I have yet much error to uproot and cast out; but little by little I am overcoming the things that beset me and learning to be more obedient, watchful, loyal, and loving. I am increasingly grateful for the day when I was led for the sake of another to lay aside pride and prejudice and read the Christian Science textbook, which revealed the Bible to me in an understandable way and brought into my life joy, peace, and an open way to salvation. Words fail to express my gratitude to our beloved Leader, Mrs. Eddy, for her sacrifices and the consecrated and pure living through which she was able to give us the truth which makes free. I can only do my utmost to be a worthy follower of her teaching. In the words of the Psalmist, "I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness."—(Mrs.)Mary Francis, Jacksonville, Florida.

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