At long last may I express in...

Betty I. Schaefer

At long last may I express in written form the gratitude I feel for the healings, both physical and moral, our family has enjoyed? The study of Christian Science has shown me that fear has no part in the life of the real man and that the guidance of the Christ leads to fulfillment and joy in our human experience. This is in sharp contrast to my attitude of eleven years ago. Then I was willing to do almost anything to escape the responsibilities connected with the rearing of my family, thinking that I could not cope with them.

The family group remains the same, but harmony and joy have replaced discord and despair in our understanding of each other. Our two children, who at that time were nervous, rebellious, and hard to handle, are now finding purpose, satisfaction, and undreamedof success in completing their education.

Through doing the tasks assigned to me in a branch Church of Christ, Scientist, I found joy in all of my work. I also learned how to demonstrate better the qualities of thoroughness, carefulness, and accuracy. In conjunction with my study of the Bible and Mrs. Eddy's writings, a dictionary was most helpful in enabling me to understand the real nature of the gifts that God has bestowed upon man, His idea.

Having learned that the qualities ascribed to charity, as outlined in the thirteenth chapter of I Corinthians, constitute Christian love, I made a study of the definitions of patience, kindness, meekness, generosity, courtesy, unselfishness, good temper, guilelessness, and sincerity, as well as of their synonyms. This study gave me an understanding of what Christian love really is. I was surprised to find that long-suffering belongs to patience, that meekness includes no element of selfdepreciation, and that to be sincere one must be honest and free of pretense.

Class instruction brought a greater insight into the relationship of God and man and the perfection of creation. Deep-seated and wellhidden fears were revealed as only illusions, particularly the fear of coming under the influence of another person's thinking. I learned that man's identity as God's child is inviolable; that God is always present and that He loves us.

I realized that since man is spiritual all of us are capable of proving that we are actually untouched by past misconceptions and that our children need not endure a life of suffering for the mistakes of parents and grandparents before them. With this understanding came a freedom never before experienced.

Recently, a visit to the Christian Science Benevolent Association Sanatorium in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, proved to be a wonderful opportunity to gain spiritual refreshment. Membership in The Mother Church and in a branch church, our periodicals, lectures, and other activities of the movement, are indeed blessings. Words seem powerless to express my gratitude to Mrs. Eddy and the stalwart workers who have aided so greatly in promoting and extending the Cause of Christian Science. How can we do less than to add our support to the Cause which is spreading the Christ, Truth, to all men!—(Mrs.) Betty I. Schaefer, Berea, Ohio.

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Testimony of Healing

I am profoundly grateful for...

July 4, 1959

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