Each day my love and gratitude...

LaVerne F. Smith

Each day my love and gratitude for Christian Science grow. I am increasingly grateful also for our Way-shower, Christ Jesus, and our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, who, through their love and understanding of God, gave to the world this light of Truth which heals and purifies.

I am one who has been healed and purified. It was my privilege to attend a Christian Science Sunday School from the age of ten years. During those precious years I was apparently dull of hearing, but the seed of Truth was sown. At eighteen I quit Sunday school and was married before I was twenty. I was not in contact with Christian Science for several years, and in the meantime I acquired the smoking habit, indulging to the extent that I began to lose weight and became quite ill. A physician was called, and one of the things he stressed was the fact that I should do less smoking. I still did not go back to Christian Science, although it was always in the back of my thought.

A couple of years later, in midwinter, I slipped off an icy step, bruising my side enough to cause a great deal of fear. A member of my family took me to the same physician, who, after examining the bruised spot, said I was apparently all right, but he could not tell whether anything might develop at a later date.

A year passed and then the old fear came again. I knew then that my only help was in turning to God. My understanding was very limited, but I used what I had, clinging to Jesus' statement, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32), and to the fact that I am in reality God's perfect child; also to lines from one of our hymns we used to sing in Sunday school:

"Our God is All-in-all,
His children cannot fear."

I could not remember much else, but I said and sang those lines over and over.

A few days later we were driving out to visit a relative, and had to stop at an intersection. It was then that a glorious light shone round about me and I heard a voice saying, "You are not in the flesh." The voice was so close and the light so bright that I thought the other occupants in the car must be aware of it as I was. I realized then that I had had a Christian Science healing. I rejoiced for days and still rejoice. It was my first demonstration. Shortly afterwards I sought out a Christian Science practitioner, who helped not only me but other members of my family as well, to go forward.

I began to study Christian Science, and the smoking habit dropped away when I realized that the two could not be mixed. Release from that habit gave me a wonderful sense of freedom which has stayed with me during these many years.

After studying and attending a branch church faithfully for some time, I became a member of it and of The Mother Church. Since then I have served in many activities. I have had numerous traits of character and disposition to correct in these past years, but progress has been mine. The latest blessing and privilege has been class instruction. What a joyous experience! The awakening during that period and following has been my reward in taking that step forward.

For all the blessings Christian Science has brought to me and mine, and for all that the Cause of Christian Science is doing for the whole world. I am humbly grateful. My prayer each day is that I may express the love I have for Christian Science in loving my fellow man more, and in helping someone along the way as I have been helped.

For our teachers, lecturers, practitioners, and the many avenues provided for us by our Leader in our progress Spiritward I am thankful beyond words. —(Mrs.) LaVerne F. Smith, Cleveland, Ohio.

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Testimony of Healing

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April 20, 1946

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