Seeds sown in Sunday School bear fruit years later

Kerrina E. Parson

When sixteen years of age I was healed of a most embarrassing and distressing condition which had been troubling me for about five years and which had not responded to various medical treatments. An aunt took me to a Christian Science Sunday School, and the teacher told us that it is God "who healeth all thy diseases" (Ps. 103:3). After the other pupils had gone, I timidly inquired if she thought God could heal me of my problem. Her prompt assurance led me to call on a practitioner, and in one visit I was completely freed from the difficulty. The healing has been permanent. In my gratitude I began the study of the writings of Mary Baker Eddy and attended the Sunday School regularly for almost two years. At that time I had an instantaneous healing of chronic tonsillitis and have never had another attack in over twenty-nine years.

However, through a series of unpleasant incidents I formed unfair and erroneous conclusions about Christian Science and left the Sunday School. Then for more than twenty years I suffered all kinds of physical ailments, doctored continuously, and searched vainly for happiness. One day I came upon some reading matter which had a vaguely familiar tone, and recognizing some thoughts which were based on the truth, I immediately looked up a Christian Science Reading Room and borrowed a copy of the textbook, Science and Health by our Leader, Mrs. Eddy. The seeds of Truth sown many years before were to bear fruit; indeed they never can be lost.

It was like finding a cool spring in a parched desert to read again the Bible and our Leader's writings, and I felt like the prodigal son. This experience was a home-coming in more ways than one. It was the means of returning to the United States from war-stricken Europe.

Although I was not seeking physical healing, but reaching out for Truth, many healings resulted naturally from improved thinking. Such discordant conditions as extreme nervousness, gastritis, constipation, female trouble, fatigue, and a very annoying lump on one of my fingers all disappeared. Through the help of practitioners I have had many healings, among them those of difficult human relationships and business worries. Many faults, such as impatience, anger, jealousy, resentment, selfishness, criticism of others and of myself, gossiping, self-pity, and a desire for sympathy, have also been healed. But most wonderful are the spiritual peace and happiness that have come to me through the daily application of Christian Science.

Once while I was riding a bicycle, a car stopped unexpectedly in front of me and began to back into a parking space. I suddenly found myself under the bicycle with the car backing over it. I had a definite sense of not being in the body at all, looking on without fear, resentment, or any desire for sympathy. What the senses called most painful injuries did not prevent me from getting up and pushing the bicycle for two blocks, declaring "the scientific statement of being" as found on page 468 of our textbook. I telephoned to a Christian Science practitioner and said that I realized that here was a glorious opportunity to demonstrate the truth, but that I felt the need of help. It was lovingly given, and I was able to walk home, several blocks away, and climb three flights of stairs.

I studied that week's Lesson-sermon Sermon in the Christian Science Quarterly, which was on the subject "God." If was most inspiring; it seemed I had never before had such a clear sense of Mrs. Eddy's definition of God (ibid., p. 587). I slept peacefully after this, but about two hours later I awoke with a pain so intense it almost overcame me. When I seemed to be losing consciousness. I roused myself and repeated: "God is my life; nothing has happened to Life. God is Truth and Love; nothing has happened to Truth or to Love." In a short while the pain ceased, and by the next morning I was up and about my duties as usual. Through this experience I gained greater understanding and a better idea of how I can help my fellow man.

I cannot tell here all the gratitude that is in my heart for our beloved Leader. Besides the privileges accompanying membership in The Mother Church and in a branch church, the joyous activities connected therewith are a fount of continual gratitude and inspiration.—(Mrs.) Kerrina E. Parson, Chicago, Illinois.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Testimony of Healing

Recovery from meningitis comes while reading ninety-first Psalm

February 5, 1949

Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit