A few months after we were married my husband became seriously ill. We both had attended the Christian Science Sunday School while growing up and knew from experience that this Science could heal disease. Shortly it became necessary to place him in a sanatorium for Christian Scientists. Both of us worked with a Christian Science practitioner and prayed fervently for a fuller spiritual understanding of God and His idea, man.

Many obstacles presented themselves, forcing me to grow. In-law relationships required more kindness. Nursing care required humility. Continuing to love required spiritual vision. And patience in the face of this challenge required selflessness. Not every step came graciously, but the more I let go of human will and planning, the more I saw trust and expectancy grow. Working daily with the Bible Lesson from the Christian Science Quarterly brought incalculable good. We could feel and see the changes.

After six weeks, my husband was ready to leave the sanatorium, and we arranged to stay in his parents' home. Then one morning a crisis occurred and the physical symptoms became aggravated. We stayed in close touch with the practitioner. She stressed God's nearness. The Bible Lesson that week was on the subject "Mortals and Immortals," and she asked that we study some references from it. One of them from Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy reads (p. 491): "It is only by acknowledging the supremacy of Spirit, which annuls the claims of matter, that mortals can lay off mortality and find the indissoluble spiritual link which establishes man forever in the divine likeness, inseparable from his creator." We vigorously affirmed Spirit's supremacy. Shortly the crisis turned into a victory, and we rejoiced! Six weeks later we were both working full time once again.

So often through this experience I remember responding to the demand (Christian Science Hymnal, No. 139), "Give of your heart's rich overflow." Death had been faced and fear overcome. Alarming physical symptoms had disappeared, never to return. And through tears of trial and gratitude, a wonderful, calm trust in God had unfolded. Six months later a thorough physical examination for an insurance policy affirmed what we already knew—my husband was in excellent health.

What a depth of riches our family shares through this one demonstration of divine Love. Yet it was just at the beginning of our marriage! Blessings continue to grow, and our grateful love goes out to all who helped us stand secure in the knowledge of God.

(Mrs.) Christine M. Telthorst
Kirkwood, Missouri

Along with my wife, I would like to tell of my gratitude. The healing of the physical symptoms of the disease was dramatic, and it brought great relief and rejoicing. The spiritual lessons that accompanied it are most dear and will remain in thought.

At one point in the illness, after having spent weeks with little or no apparent progress, I decided to seek medical advice and treatment. Although I had always relied on Christian Science treatment for healing I felt that I had been ill much too long and could not bear to continue. I thought perhaps a medical doctor would be able to diagnose the problem and prescribe some treatment or drug to quickly effect a cure.

The doctor who examined me expressed grave concern. He was astonished that I had survived in such a condition without medical attention and immediately called a hospital to arrange for my admission so that tests could be made. I was shattered. I decided to pray overnight and told him I would speak with him in the morning.

As we drove home I began to realize that the doctor could find no cause for the illness because imperfection or error has no cause. Neither does it have an existence. In reality, God is All, and He creates all. He is the only cause, and what He causes is good. I saw that I had been believing in a power apart from God—a power that could somehow make me ill. To look to material medicine, either for diagnosis or cure, was to look away from Spirit.

I realized that I had to stand unreservedly with Spirit. Any doubts or wavering I had felt were gone, and I was ready to put all my trust in God. I called the doctor the next morning and thanked him for his sincere concern and told him that I had rededicated myself to seeking healing through prayer and the application of the healing truth of Christian Science. He was most troubled about the consequences of the decision but graciously accepted my position.

With the continued prayer of the practitioner and the love of my family the healing was completed. All pain vanished in a week, and steady progress continued until every vestige of the illness was gone.

Richard V. Telthorst