After the death of one very dear to me who had been a profound influence on my life, I suffered severe chest and back pains, coupled with an inability to breathe normally. I sought the prayerful treatment of a Christian Science practitioner, who helped faithfully for several months. There were periods of semi-release, but I also had times of pain and fear that I was passing on.

As the months passed, I felt an obstruction in the areas of my heart and lungs. Numerous pictures of incurable disease paraded before my thought, and the fear of passing on continued to plague me. I spent hours in the study of the Bible and Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy, and in affirming and reaffirming the truths of Christian Science. Very gradually progress became apparent. With the coming of spring, the pain had disappeared, but the obstruction to my breathing still seemed very uncomfortable.

Throughout this time I was forced to see more clearly than ever before that God is my Life and that life is not in matter to pass out of matter. This, I recognized, was the truth about my friend as well. I was seeing, too, that I could not be separated for an instant from the love of our Father-Mother God and that neither could my dear friend.

With the coming of summer I was moving about doing almost everything, including light swimming in a pool. In August the family went for a brief vacation in the New Hampshire White Mountains. My husband and I wanted very much to climb a mountain. By this time I had held so many times to the fact that my life is not dependent upon my heart or my lungs—that God is my Life—that I decided to climb. Although the breathing was difficult, the climb was successful and took about two and one half hours, round trip.

Upon returning from New Hampshire I wanted very much to teach in the Sunday School again, but felt I could not until the healing was complete. My desire to be healed and to teach in the Sunday School was very great. I had been praying myself, without the aid of a Christian Science practitioner, for several weeks; the idea came to me very clearly that I was not dependent upon a person for my joy or for my health, but that I was dependent entirely on God. Soon the obstruction was gone! I was completely free! With tears of gratitude to God I realized I had been healed of grief. After ten months the battle had been fought and the victory won and I was now ready to accept the responsibilities and opportunities provided by a loving Father-Mother God.

Last summer our teen-age daughter was healed through prayer in Christian Science of a condition that appeared threatening. The love and support of two Christian Science practitioners at different times was of inestimable value to us all. Because of the severity of the situation we were forced to dig deeply into our understanding of Christian Science for life and health. We clung to statements of truth from Science and Health.

One day a practitioner mentioned to our daughter that she could be at the Wednesday testimony meeting that evening. Those close to her were incredulous. Toward the end of the day the pain was intense. At this point, however, I was convinced of our need to make an effort to awake from this dream of suffering. I left our daughter's room and went to pray for the healing success of all Wednesday testimony meetings in branch churches all over the world. I prayed again after dinner and then went to our daughter's room. She was up and dressed, and was sitting relatively peacefully in a chair listening to music. We all went to church that night. I shall never forget the experience of observing our daughter sitting quietly throughout the meeting, and when it was over she announced that the pain was all gone. She asked her father to take us for a drive in the fresh summer air, as she felt so joyous and free.

Our daughter was able to attend a summer camp four days later. Before leaving for camp she had resumed normal activity, strength, and eating habits. At camp she participated in a vigorous program, which included river rafting and long hikes into the mountains. She spent a very happy ten days there.

I am very grateful for this healing and for the spiritual strength we all gain in situations such as this one.

(Mrs.) Nancy H. Kreutzer
Riverside, Connecticut