Words are inadequate to express my gratitude for Christian Science

Myrtle Montrief

Words are inadequate to express my gratitude for Christian Science. It came to me at a time when all earthly hope had fled. The physicians had told me that if I should get well, which was doubtful, I would never be able to walk again. In this seemingly hopeless state, I lay and pondered the meaning of life and God.

I could not understand why this should have happened to me. I had been a member of an orthodox church since I was twelve years old and had tried, as nearly as I knew how, to lead a Christian life. I taught in the Sunday school for many years, but there was much in the Scriptures that I could not accept. For instance, I was never able to explain to my class why God hardened Pharaoh's heart. If God hardened Pharaoh's heart, how could Pharaoh be responsible for his wicked deeds? Who was man, to pit himself against the wishes of the Almighty?

Following several years' strenuous work in a state-wide activity, I became, to material sense, very ill. My trouble was diagnosed as a tumor, and a major operation was performed. I recovered from the operation, but the trouble which had been originally diagnosed persisted. X-ray pictures were taken which revealed a fractured pelvis bone. Another operation was performed, infection set in, and again I underwent an operation. The infection continued to spread and other operations were performed. There were also evidences of a fistula, and several places on my hip had opened and were draining. Morphine had been administered constantly for many months, until I was unable to be without it. Everything had been done for me that human love and medical science could do—loving care, medicine, surgery, X ray, lamps, masseurs—there was nothing left to turn to but God!

At this time, a friend who was a student of Christian Science sent me an article entitled, "Why I am a Christian Scientist." It was read to me and I became interested. That evening a friend who was a practitioner called to inquire of my condition. No one was allowed to see me, but I heard her voice and called for her to come to me. I told her that the doctors had said that I could never walk again and asked her if she thought Christian Science could do anything for me. "Indeed it can," she replied, and gave me one verse to cling to, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." From that time on, she spent many hours reading to me and helping me.

The need seemed to be very great and there were no Christian Science nurses available, so she lovingly took over the responsibilities of a nurse, calling a man practitioner to do the metaphysical work. In two weeks' time, under his help, I was healed of the morphine appetite. I graduated from the bed to a wheel chair; from the wheel chair to crutches; from crutches to a cane, and finally was able to walk with freedom.

To those sufferers needing help, may I say, Don't let discouragement creep in and deprive you of your healing. I am a walking representative that all things are possible to God. It took work and prayerful consecration and a desire to be good and obedient. Many times I sang the hymns with the tears streaming down my face because of the pain. I would read in the Bible of the healings performed by Jesus and say, "Yea, Lord, I do believe," and would make the effort to walk. Many times I would fall and have to be picked up, but I kept on trying. I said over and over again, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." One thought the practitioner gave me which was helpful in chasing away fear was that there is but one law operative, and that is God's law; and that His law demands perfection. There can be no ill effects from that operation.

About a year following my healing, several loose particles of bone worked to the surface. I was able to remove all of them but one. It was quite large and ragged, so a physician was called, at a relative's insistency, to remove it with forceps. He asked the privilege of taking an X-ray picture for his own satisfaction. Permission was granted. When it was developed, the physician made these remarks: "Well, little lady, the picture still says you cannot walk. You can call it God; you can call it nature; you can call it whatever you want to, I do not understand it. But you are walking, so why worry?"

Much resentment was overcome by the practitioner's going over with me in prayerful consideration the Lord's Prayer, especially that part which says, "Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." This helped me to gain a clearer realization of God's universal family, and His love for all, and to know that I was responsible for myself and to Him.

Needless to say, I am grateful for Christian Science; for the loving, unselfish, untiring work of the practitioners; for Mary Baker Eddy for giving to the world the lost element of healing preached and practiced by Jesus; for membership in The Mother Church and a branch church; and for the spiritual interpretation of the Bible that is being unfolded to me. How glorious it is to know the God of love, and to learn that the hardness of Pharaoh's heart was only the obduracy of mortal mind thinking. It is my daily prayer to be worthy of the name Christian Scientist.

(Mrs.) Myrtle Montrief, South Pasadena, California.

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