Testimony of Healing August 4, 1980 Issue

Eighteen years ago I reached a turning point

ELIZABETH P. WENTWORTH with contributions from RHODA LEE WENTWORTH

Eighteen years ago I reached a turning point. It was the time of our daughter's birth, and the doctors felt that neither one of us could live more than a few weeks. Although we did survive, there were many dire medical predictions outlined for this little girl. I was told that if she lived to grow up, she would be under a severe mental handicap, and that she would be crippled unless I exercised every part of her body. However, I was unable to tend to the exercises because I too suffered from multiple physical problems.

In Science and Health Mrs. Eddy tells us that "'man's extremity is God's opportunity'" (p. 266). As a youngster I had had brief contact with Christian Science. Now I felt guided to Science as my only hope of living long enough to help this child reach adulthood. I learned that God never created imperfection, and that I must see our daughter's true nature as a perfect child of God whenever I looked at her or thought of her. And I needed to apply this standard to myself as well. Through persistent spiritually scientific reasoning, I saw her deformed body gradually straighten. This gave me much encouragement, and I began to feel that if God did this, certainly "with God all things are possible" (Matt. 19:26). Obviously, then, any other problem could be overcome through God's guidance and control.

During our daughter's first year of school, circumstances were such that a dozen or more substitute teachers conducted her class. In addition to most of the students suffering severely from the lack of continuity in the teaching, our little girl also stood out as holding different religious convictions from the majority of the town. Concerned about her physical condition, the school principal demanded that I take her to a medical doctor for a thorough examination, and from there to the children's psychological clinic for testing and help. I was told she would have to repeat the first grade, if indeed she could ever go beyond that level. In addition to these problems, it was felt that she lacked coordination.

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