Testimony of Healing January 30, 1971 Issue

I am still enjoying the blessings that come from a lifetime adherence...

Flavia M. Dwyer

I am still enjoying the blessings that come from a lifetime adherence to the teachings of Christian Science. I learned to turn to God with complete confidence, and this enabled me to overcome many problems while bringing up three children. Athlete's foot, boils, a dislocated jaw, pulled ligaments, and bursitis are only a few of the ills that were completely healed by the application of Christian Science either through my own understanding or with treatment by a Christian Science practitioner. Many of the healings which were quick are forgotten, but the ones that took more persistent effort are well remembered because of the valuable lessons learned. One of these I would like to relate because of a new value it gave to human relationships.

One summer a very ugly and painful skin condition began to break out on my face. I applied the truths of Christian Science to the best of my ability and had help from a practitioner. This went on for several weeks, and every few days the symptoms would lessen a little. I would think the condition was being healed, but then in an hour or so it would flare up again with all its heat and irritation. I realized I was too interested in a physical change and was looking to matter instead of away from it. I understood this is not a healing attitude, so I turned to God more earnestly.

In my study of Mrs. Eddy's definition of "fire" in the Glossary of Science and Health, I saw that my thought, not my face, had to be purified. These words are included in the definition (p. 586): "Affliction purifying and elevating man." The book of Malachi, implies that the Christ "is like a refiner's fire" (3:2).