Recently I passed through...

Josephine S. Dant

Recently I passed through many trials. I now regard them as blessings because I understand what is meant by Mrs. Eddy's words in Science and Health (p. 66), "Trials are proofs of God's care."

I have been employed by a large company for some twenty years as a major department head. Because of reorganization and moving several hundred people to another city, my department was almost depleted. The resultant confusion was great, and the experience became quite trying.

I became ill one Sunday and asked a practitioner to support me through prayer. Although I was quite ill, it seemed right because of unusual business circumstances that I should be at my work the following day. The condition was a physical breakdown, with heart and other complications.

I spent many hours at night propped up in bed extremely ill. At times I was quite fearful, since I was alone in the house. Also I was sunk in a feeling of apathy and despair, and the thought of death was real and near. This state of thought remained for weeks.

Finally, through the work of the practitioner, the mesmerism of the beliefs of apathy and fear was partly dissolved, and I could understand what I needed to be rid of. Mrs. Eddy says in "Miscellaneous Writings" (pp. 209, 210), "Divine Love, as unconscious as incapable of error, pursues the evil that hideth itself, strips off its disguises, and —behold the result: evil, uncovered, is self-destroyed."

Pride, especially pride of position, resentment of circumstances, of place, and of things, frustration, temper, and dependence on persons for supply had to be overcome, but most of all I needed to love, just love. I humbly tried to rid myself of these false traits; and when I could honestly give up reliance on material circumstances and trust completely to God's abundant goodness, I began to get well, and my work became more harmonious and secure.

However, a few weeks later I began to experience considerable pain, fever, nausea, and was unable to help myself. I called a practitioner, who graciously prayed for me. The symptoms continued for approximately two weeks, and I became weak and exhausted. But I was not afraid this time. I just prayed for grace for the day.

One night toward dawn it came to me very clearly that I needed to love the idea of Church more and to be rid of dreads and fears. After that, although the pain was still there, it did not bother me, and suddenly I was very peaceful. The condition gradually cleared. Then I experienced a brief period of the most intense fear I have ever known, It was like a physical illness and required much persistent, prayerful work with a practitioner. But it yielded to the truth. I am more peaceful now than I have ever been in my life.

I think an outstanding aspect of these experiences is the fact that I was at work each day and that others, with the possible exception of my immediate department personnel, did not realize that I was very ill most of the time. It was necessary to call the practitioner many times while I was at work; but my need was always met, and I was enabled to complete my work each day.

I am very grateful for these physical healings and also for various other healings; but I am most grateful for the spiritual understanding gained through these trials.

I am grateful for Christ Jesus and for our Leader, Mrs. Eddy, grateful to be a member of The Mother Church and a branch church, for class instruction, the consecrated work of practitioners, and all the activities of the Christian Science movement.—(Mrs.) Josephine S. Dant, Louisville, Kentucky.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Testimony of Healing

I first heard of Christian Science...

September 22, 1962

Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit