I am a retired schoolteacher

I am a retired schoolteacher. Early last year I was having treatment from a Christian Science practitioner for a sumac-induced rash. Suddenly the whole condition erupted violently. It was discovered that I had unknowingly cut a patch of dormant poison oak with my chain saw. The juice had sprayed both my arms. The symptoms appeared terrifying.

The practitioner and I redoubled our prayerful efforts. We shared many beautiful truths. One was from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, where Mary Baker Eddy says (p. 463), "A spiritual idea has not a single element of error, and this truth removes properly whatever is offensive." Finally, this came to me and I wrote it down: "Since God is All-in-all, there is nothing that can possibly enter from without and pollute the allness of God's perfect kingdom; hence, there can be no such thing as contamination or pollution." Thereafter, my healing began.

To keep the arms bandaged and clean, I engaged the professional aid of a nurse from the local visiting nurse service for Christian Scientists. One day, as I was lamenting to her my apparent lack of spiritual receptivity needed to bring about a speedy healing, she assured me the condition was clearing up beautifully—that I could be grateful that I was under Christian Science treatment. She said, "You have been healed already!" So I tried to be more grateful for Christian Science, for the expert care of the nurse, and the effective prayer of the practitioner.

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Testimony of Healing
When I was eight, we attended a cookout during vacation
January 29, 1979
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