Having had the joy of knowing...

Joyce Stearns Ball

Having had the joy of knowing Christian Science all my life, I am truly grateful for Christ Jesus and for Mrs. Eddy, who gave us this demonstrable religion. The truths of God and man which were lovingly taught me in Sunday School have been a constant guide. There have been healings of sickness; but the understanding of Christian Science has primarily been a source of protection in my experience.

I should like to express gratitude at this time for the healing of sorrow when a dear one passed on. The healing was so quick that there was actually no grief to be overcome, although we had been very close companions, and I had always thought that life without her presence would be empty.

My earnest study of Mrs. Eddy's writings established in my thought the true concept of man as a perfect child of God. The understanding that I gained through this study freed me from the sense of separation, for I was able to recognize the dear one's true being as eternal. This experience was an important stepping-stone for me, and in the years since then I have gratefully recalled it when the belief of death has come to my attention.

Also I am humbly grateful for a healing I had while visiting a small town many miles away from home or friends. I had suffered a severe loss of blood, and my companion and I were both declaring the truths of God and His love for His children. It seemed as though I would faint, and I remember thinking that as a spiritual idea I was always conscious of God's tender love, that I could be aware only of good, and that no matter what mortal mind was saying about the body, my true and only selfhood was upright, pure, and free.

Apparently I did faint, but I soon awakened to hear my friend saying "the scientific statement of being" from page 468 of Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy. My first thought was to join in saying it to let my friend know I had awakened. After repeating it, I lost consciousness again; but very quickly the Christ, Truth, dawned in thought, and I came to, clearly realizing that the dream of error had been broken and that, as the statement says, "All is infinite Mind and its infinite manifestation, for God is All-in-all."

In a few minutes the blood stanched, and we spend the rest of the day joyously thanking our Father-Mother God for this lovely proof of His care. It was a good time to study the Bible and Science and Health and to gain a deeper understanding of Him. The healing was so complete that no period of convalescence was necessary. That evening I joyfully kept an appointment and the next day took part in very strenuous exercise.

I am truly grateful for the great privilege of class instruction and also for the rich companionship of a husband who loves Christian Science. We are happy to be members of The Mother Church as well as active members of a branch church. This testimony would be incomplete without an expression of gratitude for the abundance of good that unfolded to us at the birth of our daughter.

"He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" (Mic. 6:8.)—(Mrs.) Joyce Stearns Ball, Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania.

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Testimony of Healing

I Wish to express heartfelt gratitude...

March 16, 1963

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