Testimony of Healing November 12, 1938 Issue

Some years ago, while gathering blackberries in a thicket...

Margaret S. Rhodes with contributions from Harry L. Rhodes

Some years ago, while gathering blackberries in a thicket in the country, I was bitten by a copperhead. Since the berry bushes had not been properly taken care of, I could hardly see my footing; and in picking my way I had stepped on a log and rolled it over, evidently arousing a snake, which was frightened at the intrusion. I felt a stinging sensation in my left ankle. Immediately I thought of what our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, has written on page 514 of Science and Health. I knew that I must hold to the thought of God's love for all His creation, and I mentally declared: Why, I did not mean to frighten or harm you; you have just as much right to be here as I have, and your bite cannot harm me. It has no power to injure me, because I am "clad in the panoply of Love" (ibid., p. 571). I refused to allow any resentment to enter my thinking; then I quietly put my case in the Father's care, knowing that I should be cared for by Him effectively and quickly.

A friend was with me who was interested in Christian Science, but I did not tell her of the experience. I called her to come back to the cabin with me, and we busied ourselves preparing dinner. The incident occurred about four o'clock in the afternoon, and it was after we returned home that I told her. She seemed very much surprised, saying: "Why you did not indicate that there was anything wrong with you at all! I did notice a rustle in the bush near us ans saw something crawling away, but paid little attention to it."

Up to that time there had been no swelling or pain in the limb, only two bright red marks on the ankle. I was so elated to think that I had gotten along so wonderfully that I told the story the next day to a woman who came to clean my house. She became very fearful for me, saying over and over again, "Nobody ever gets over a copperhead's bite, honey; it sure is death." I knew then that I had made a mistake in telling her, and immediately I protected myself from her fears, but that afternoon and evening the limb began to swell, and became very much inflamed and sore. I went to the office as usual that day, but came home earlier in the evening. Both my husband and I worked faithfully; then I went to sleep, awakening early the next morning with no pain and with the assurance that the swelling had stopped. By the next morning my limb was normal in appearance.

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