It is with deep gratitude and reverence...

Pieternella de Keijzer-Dorreboom

It is with deep gratitude and reverence to God that I give thanks for the many blessings that have come my way through the study and application of Christian Science. I was a young girl when Science was presented to me. At that time our family was in a state of grief and sorrow due to the loss of an older sister of mine. Moreover, I was sick, and great fear was expressed that I was suffering from the same illness that had resulted in my sister's passing on.

Up to that time I had had no religious education, and God meant little or nothing to me. I shall never forget my first visit to a Christian Science practitioner, for although I did not think that I had grasped much of what he said, yet I felt more uplifted and happy than I had ever felt before. Soon I was not only healthy, but was experiencing a peace of mind and a sense of joy that I had never known.

I shall always be grateful for the privilege of attending a Christian Science Sunday School for about a year, until I was twenty. After I took up the daily study of the Lesson-Sermons in the Christian Science Quarterly, blessings were experienced by me and mine. Family life became happier and more harmonious as I learned to see the real man's spiritual status.

During the Second World War, I felt especially grateful that Christian Science is a practical religion. I was living in Holland, and our country was going through great difficulty. The branch Church of Christ, Scientist, of which I had become a member was closed by the occupying forces. There was no gas or electricity and almost no food in our city. Although there was little time during that period to study Christian Science, yet I felt that here was the opportunity to put into practice what I had learned. As I did this my husband was protected from being sent to a slave labor camp, and our two baby boys, who were born during the last two years of the war, remained healthy and happy in spite of the fact that no proper baby food was available. During that time we had to see that "man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live" (Deut. 8:3). Our needs were wonderfully met, even though I had to cycle long hours to obtain food. We were especially grateful to be able to help others.

Our two boys have attended Sunday School ever since they were admitted and in many instances have proved that they have gained a workable knowledge of Science. So-called children's diseases, severe burns, colds, and other ailments have been quickly and effectively overcome, and a partly amputated toe has grown to its normal length, even the nail having grown on it. But even more than for physical healings, I am grateful for a better understanding of God and man.

When we decided to make our home in the United States we were wonderfully guided and protected in taking the right steps. What to others appeared to be a big undertaking and a hard experience became a joyful unfoldment of God's goodness and tender care.

Words can never express my profound gratitude to our dear Leader, Mrs. Eddy, who labored to bring to the world her great revelation of Truth. I count membership in The Mother Church and a branch church and class instruction among my many blessings. I can truly say (II Cor. 9:15), "Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift."— (Mrs.) Pieternella de Keijzer-Dorreboom, San Luis Obispo, California.

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Testimony of Healing

Christian Science has done so...

March 12, 1955

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