Many blessings have come to me...

Lottie L. Barnes

Many blessings have come to me through the study and application of Christian Science in my daily life since my testimony was published in the Christian Science Sentinel of June 12, 1926. I have been healed of erysipelas, virus infection, dengue fever, severe colds, an abscessed tooth, and many other physical discords. Business problems have been solved through the application of Christian Science, and certain unlovely traits of character have been overcome.

The following experience may help someone in proving that a convalescent period is not necessary. Following a severe bronchial cold I lay in bed for two days so weak I could scarcely speak. The congestion and other symptoms had been healed in one treatment by a Christian Science practitioner, but great weakness remained.

The third day of this extreme weakness I suddenly sat up in bed and found myself saying, "I am well." I jumped out of bed with joy. Then I did quite a number of household chores, fixed supper for myself, and slept well all night. One moment I was extremely weak, and the next I was well and strong. I am so grateful for the beautiful work done by the practitioner at the time and at other times, too.

Another healing proved that illness may be caused by unloving thinking and can be healed when the thinking is purified. I was holding hard feelings toward someone who had neglected to tell the maid of a certain job, which I consequently had to do myself. It involved some heavy lifting, and as I was finishing the work a pain struck me in my thigh and hip. After that it was most difficult for me to sit comfortably.

Then I attended a Christian Science lecture, during which we were told that kinks in our character have to be straightened out, just as kinks in a garden hose. As I pondered the lecturer's statement I thought of the hard feelings I had been harboring, and immediately I said to myself, "I'll stop this right now and love." As I did so, a sense of light and joy followed, and I felt as though a great burden had slipped off my shoulders. There was a warm and tender feeling toward the one about whom I had been thinking unkindly, and I felt as if I had come out of a fog into the bright sunshine. The next morning in getting out of bed I realized that there was no pain and that there had been none when I retired the night before. The pain has never returned. How wonderful it is to learn the lesson of letting go of resentment, self-pity, hate, and ill will, and to feel Love's healing touch in the removal of these heavy burdens, so useless and afflictive. Christian Science teaches us how to drop them and how to love our neighbor as ourself.

Through refusing to entertain thoughts of pain and distress and through pondering the words of Mrs. Eddy's hymns I was healed of severe pain in my face and of a torn muscle in my knee which prevented my straightening the leg. I could tell of many other healings, but I am most grateful that I am growing in my understanding of God and of man in His image and likeness.

I am thankful for every opportunity to serve in the Christian Science movement, which is helping all mankind. My membership in The Mother Church, a branch church, and a Christian Science students' association is very precious to me. I gratefully acknowledge my loving appreciation of Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science.—(Miss) Lottie L. Barnes, Columbus, Georgia.

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Testimony of Healing

For a long time I have read with...

December 25, 1954

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