When I was a senior in high...

Robert S. Craig

When I was a senior in high school, I was eagerly looking forward to my college experience. Then, unexpectedly, the person who had agreed to finance my education passed on, and I had saved only enough to take care of my tuition and other expenses for about two years. As I sought guidance from God, this statement by Mrs. Eddy was brought to my attention (Science and Health, p. 494), "Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need," with special emphasis on the final word "need."

I saw that I really needed closer association with the Father, divine Love, and that He would meet my need. While I was thinking along this line, someone recommended that I apply for a scholarship, since several were available; but I rejected the proposal because I did not consider my marks to be high enough. It was then lovingly pointed out that I was accepting limitation, and since I had earnestly sought God's guidance, it was not right to reject any of the ideas He presented.

Accordingly, I applied for several scholarships, only to find that I was ineligible for each one except one which was available to all entering as freshmen, and there were about twelve hundred of us. However, I continued to know that my need would be met as long as I tried to live in accord with divine Principle, God.

I took the necessary examinations in June and a few days later applied for and received a summer job. Late in July I was notified that although my grades were not high enough to grant me a full scholarship, there was a half scholarship available, which would reimburse me for tuition charges for two of the four years.

My financial need had thus been met and in a most unexpected way. I was totally unaware that there were such things as half scholarships. I then saw clearly that too many of us seek only a fulfillment of our wants; whereas it is the need that Love meets. Moreover, the summer job was available each year during the college experience. The wages earned more than paid for the incidental college expenses incurred.

Since leaving college I have often asked myself before praying to God, "Is this a need or simply a want?" Each time, my legitimate needs have been met.

Some time ago I returned home after teaching school all day, manifesting the symptoms of a cold. After supper I read the weekly Bible Lesson from the Christian Science Quarterly and went to bed contemplating a passage I had read from Psalms, "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning" (30:5).

When I awakened the next morning, there seemed to be no change in my physical condition. I decided, however, to go to school. In studying the lesson, I was again struck by the passage quoted above, and in contemplating its spiritual import I realized that morning could be considered as the light of understanding and that joy and strength were really already mine as a child of God.

This thought enabled me to be at my desk on time, to teach my classes, meet a committee working on an assembly, sponsor an activity, coach the football team through a strenuous practice, and even to attend an evening faculty meeting! I do not know when the physical discomfort left me, but the healing was complete.

I am grateful to be a member of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, and to have had the privilege of serving in a branch church as Sunday School teacher, usher, and board member. Class instruction was also a precious experience to me. Above all, however, I am grateful to Mrs. Eddy for the consecration which enabled her to reveal this great and practical truth to the world.—Robert S. Craig, St. Louis, Missouri.

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Testimony of Healing

With a heart full of gratitude for...

August 29, 1959

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