My heart overflows with gratitude...

Helen Balfour

My heart overflows with gratitude to God and to our dear Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, for the blessing of Christian Science. As a child in an unhappy, broken home, in which the medical nursing profession played a prominent part, I became chronically unhappy and constantly manifested some physical problem in response to the watching for symptoms.

At the time of greatest distress and unhappiness, when the situation had reached the point where I was being given drugs to go to sleep, I was invited to attend a Sunday service in a Church of Christ, Scientist, with two young women whom I had admired very much because of their joyous and loving natures. Before the service was half over I knew that what I was hearing was the truth. A copy of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy was given me by one of the young women, and I read it every spare moment. The truth poured into my consciousness, and my whole life began to change. Unhappiness was replaced with peace and joy, fear with confidence, sickness with health.

I have had many proofs of God's protection and care. Of many healings, I wish to tell of one which has brought much strength and inspiration. After studying the seven synonyms for God and dwelling on the thought of His authority and omnipotence, I gained a greater sense of His nearness and love than I had ever experienced. Several mornings later I awakened with a painful condition of the neck, shoulders, and arms. I found it difficult even to hold my head erect. All that day I studied and prayed to know man's freedom, but by evening the difficulty was even, more distressing. In view, however, of the confidence gained in God's omnipresence and healing power through my previous study, I felt no fear.

When I retired that night a sense of pain engulfed me from head to foot. I opened the Bible and read the ninety-first Psalm, which comforted me greatly. Then I turned to another Psalm, a verse of which stood out as though it were in italics (145:14), "The Lord upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down." Instantly my consciousness was flooded with light, and I clearly felt God's presence tenderly and lovingly caring for me. I felt as a child might who has been picked up and cradled in loving arms. All pain ceased at the same instant.

Through the help of a practitioner, I had a quick healing of a severe nervous breakdown. This experience was so outstanding that my husband became interested in Christian Science and began attending church with me. This healing was witnessed by other members of the family also, and a more harmonious relationship has resulted.

I am grateful for all the avenues of good provided by our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, for the loving help of Christian Science practitioners, for membership in The Mother Church, and for branch church activity. My daily prayer is that my life may increasingly attest my gratitude through usefulness to the Cause of Christian Science.—(Mrs.) Helen Balfour, Portland, Oregon.

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