Testimony of Healing September 23, 1950 Issue

For many years I have had the...

Elsie E. Fowle

For many years I have had the priceless advantages that Christian Science affords one. I attended the Sunday School at an early age and saw many healings take place in our family through the earnest study and efforts of my mother. Then as years went by and it was not possible for me to rely on her any longer, I found that I must prove for myself what I had been taught in Christian Science.

For a period of a few weeks a back ailment presented itself quite frequently, and I asked for help from a practitioner. This discomfort would disappear through our realization of the truth, but it would return again later on. However, I was up and about each day caring for two members of my family. Through daily study I realized that many false beliefs which were still being clung to, though unconsciously, must be overcome. Lovingly the practitioner showed me that while my desire to depend on God alone was good and right, fear was being manifested, and she explained that fear is lack of trust in God's goodness and wisdom. Though the suffering was at times intense, I knew the victory would come, and I prayed for courage to take my stand in the face of questionings from members of the household who were not interested in Christian Science.

I was joyous in proving to myself that mt greatest desire was to obey the First Commandment (Ex. 20:3), "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." The following lines by Mrs. Eddy from "Pulpit and Press" (p. 13): "Every mortal at some period, here or hereafter, must grapple with and overcome the mortal belief in a power opposed to God," gave me much courage. I also pondered our beloved Leader's statement in Science and Health (p. 76): "Suffering, sinning, dying beliefs are unreal. When divine Science is universally understood, they will have no power over man, for man is immortal and lives by divine authority." It was then that my faith became stronger, for I saw that this was not mere theory, but absolute fact, which never changes, being based on Principle. Also I saw that because matter is powerless, it could produce neither pain nor ease, so it must not be for ease in matter for which I prayed. The I AM which was revealed to Moses unfolded to me clearer than ever before as ever-present God, the Divine Being, encircling me now and always with wisdom and loving care.