My gratitude for Christian Science...

Edna Pierce Chapman

My gratitude for Christian Science is boundless. I turned to it for the healing of a physical difficulty and for peace of mind, because I had reached the point where I could not sleep at all and could hardly eat. My husband wanted me to see a doctor, but I told him that I would try a Christian Science practitioner, and if I was not helped, I would see a doctor. I took the name of a practitioner from those listed in The Christian Science Journal and telephoned to her.

I shall never forget the blessed relief and encouragement that her words gave me. That night I went to bed and slept for the first time in several weeks. The complete healing took time, for I had to learn many things; but never again did I feel the fear and despair that had gripped me for so many days. My gratitude goes out to the practitioner, whose work accomplished this healing and who kept me studying until I could see for myself the wonders of this good way of Life.

Our three children have had great protection and consistent good health since my fear for them was lifted by these words from the Christian Science textbook. Science and Health by our dear Leader, Mrs. Eddy (p. 463): "A spiritual idea has not a single element of error, and this truth removes properly whatever is offensive." I could see the truth that the children were spiritual ideas without "a single element of error." Behavior and disagreeable personality habits have been beautifully improved and healed.

Some months ago our youngest child had a severe case of impetigo, and I found myself trying at first not to look at the physical evidence and to see instead God's perfect idea. I seemed quite unable to do so, however, for I kept trying to see a perfect physical body when in reality there is no matter to see sick or well.

We had the help of a practitioner, and I finally realized that regardless of what I saw, matter has nothing to do with man. Despite the manifestation, it was no part of God's child, the idea of Mind. After that, the physical evidence did not disturb me, and as I held persistently to this truth, the child was soon healed.

Shortly afterward I manifested the same condition. For about a week, whenever I bathed, I patted on bath powder with the thought of helping to dry up the condition, but it did not heal. I worked faithfully in Christian Science. Then one day I realized that by applying the bath powder, I was admitting that matter needed to be healed, when, in truth, man is spiritual and perfect. I stopped using the powder, and the healing was then immediate. This helped me to realize more clearly the reason for the requirement in Christian Science of radical reliance on God.

About six years ago my husband and I bought a piece of property and began a small business venture. To mortal sense, we had hardly a penny to invest. Through the help of a practitioner and my own devoted study, I began to understand that it was not money we needed but spiritual ideas, which began to appear in unlimited abundance.

Every obstacle was overcome, and the business has grown and prospered solely through the working of the truth. In this connection, I have been able to do the extra physical work required with increasing ease and efficiency by learning to let Mind, God, control my thinking.

These and many other experiences have proven to me the marvelous practicality of Christian Science in daily life. There is not a single part of my life which has not been touched and blessed by it. Truly God is good —(Mrs.) Edna Pierce Chapman, Bayside, Virginia.

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