After three surgical operations and steady reliance on material...

Ralph E. Sperry

After three surgical operations and steady reliance on material methods in solving problems, I found myself married to a new and devout student of Christian Science. My wife was being healed of curvature of the spine and other long-standing ailments through the diligent study of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy.

This was to me indeed a new approach to meeting the affairs of life. She was faithfully and successfully following the rule, "Only through radical reliance on Truth can scientific healing power be realized" (Science and Health, p. 167).

As I observed her physical healings and her advancement in the study and practical application of Christian Science in our family affairs, I became interested. It was about ten years, however, before I felt I could honestly apply for church membership with confidence that I could depend fully on Christian Science. During that time I had been healed of smoking. Along with the benefits and sustaining influence of church membership, I have also had primary class instruction.

Over the past thirty years I have had healings of many kinds of difficulties. My finances have improved; traits of character are more in keeping with Christ Jesus' teaching; family relations are better. Our three children were born under Christian Science care. I personally have had numerous physical healings, including two unrelated hernias, two broken arms, and various other difficulties that tempted me to yield to incapacity.

However, one particular healing comes to mind. Over several years, at intervals, I battled distressing attacks that came on suddenly with accompanying chills and fever and swelling in one leg. Despite prayerful treatment by a Christian Science practitioner, each succeeding attack seemed to be more real than the previous.

I awakened one morning at about two o'clock and all the symptoms suddenly appeared. I called my wife for help but was not able to think clearly for myself. She quickly asked for the support of a practitioner. After some time, as my thought clarified, these words came to me (I John 3:2, 3): "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." I clung to these words all through the balance of the night and finally recognized that they were portions of the readings at our Sunday church services. The victory was soon at hand. There were two subsequent mild attacks, which were quickly met when seen as temptations to believe that the previous experiences had been real.

I am truly grateful for this Comforter, divine Science, promised by Christ Jesus, the master Christian, and revealed by God to Mrs. Eddy.

Ralph E. Sperry
Los Angeles, California

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Testimony of Healing

I was tired, frustrated, and the deadline was approaching

May 15, 1976

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