Testimony of Healing May 14, 1955 Issue

For more than thirty years I...

Janet F. Lynch

For more than thirty years I smoked, at first socially and then from habit. Finally smoking became so much a part of me that it was unnoticed, accepted, and unquestioned. About ten years ago my study of Christian Science began to bring spiritual unfoldment, and numerous healings followed. However, the smoking continued. There were occasions when I thought it was not compatible with the truth I was learning, but I always quieted such thoughts by telling myself that other people did much worse things and they seemed to be getting along all right. Nevertheless, Truth was working in my thought, and one day I found myself looking at this habit objectively. How unbecoming, how ungracious, how unlovely, how undesirable it was—in others!

I finally called for the help of a practitioner, and the practitioner's work was so effective that the desire for tobacco left me while I was talking to him. That evening, I recall, I rather nonchalantly remarked that I had quit smoking. Two days later I attended a social luncheon. Cigarettes and matches were on all of the tables, and after a while I reached out, took a cigarette, and lit it. At the time the thought came to me, "You shouldn't do this." But then the suggestion came, "Surely one won't hurt, and I'll quit for good tomorrow. ' What a lesson I had to learn!

Christ Jesus rebuked Satan with the word's (Matt. 4:7), "Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." It had never been quite clear to me what he meant, but the next six months were to teach me, for my struggle with the smoking habit began again. During this time I began thinking about Church membership, but I knew the smoking must be healed before I could join.

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