It's a joy to be a Christian Scientist! The teachings of Science have helped me more than I can ever find words to express. They've satisfied a longing I've had since I was a very young girl—to understand the Bible.

I had a superb healing some time back—at least, it's superb to me; one for which I worked and prayed a long while. I might say that during this healing, I worked in an environment where medical terminology was frequently used.

For some time I had been taking medication. Then I learned about and began to study Christian Science. The more I read and studied, the more I wanted to quit taking medication and lean on God wholly and completely.

I finally did quit, but I didn't throw the medication away. I really thought this was sufficient. In fact, I even felt proud when I could go to work without taking any of the pills with me "just in case." This went on for quite a while. Still I kept having physical troubles, one after another, and I kept thinking about those pills on the shelf.

On the evening a Christian Science lecture was to be given at our branch church, I came home from work feeling terrible. I didn't see how I could possibly attend, yet I had so looked forward to this particular evening and lecture. I decided to call a Christian Science practitioner for help, but when I tried, was unable to reach one. I then realized no practitioner could throw those pills away for me; that was something only I could do.

I did make it to the lecture, which was very uplifting and helpful. Then I came home and threw the bottle of pills in the trash. But I retrieved them the next day—not to take, mind you, but to place back on the shelf. Fear had once again raised its ugly head. Now I realized that Truth was impelling me to love and trust God more.

This time I called and reached a practitioner. She worked with me, and in a few days, fear of being without the pills was completely dispelled. I threw the pills away for the second and last time. Since then I have been many times blessed, have not suffered, and have known great peace and assurance. I know that God sustains me.

I am so grateful for this demonstration. I feel that I have grown spiritually because of it. Shortly after I was healed, I applied and was accepted for membership in a branch church. Before this healing I had attended this church for a number of years, and had progressed in Science to the point that I felt qualified for membership, except that I was taking medication. Still I had such a deep desire to be a part of the church. Mrs. Eddy says in Science and Health (p. 1), "Desire is prayer; and no loss can occur from trusting God with our desires, that they may be moulded and exalted before they take form in words and in deeds." Also, in speaking of students of Christian Science, she writes (ibid., p. 451), "They must not only seek, but strive, to enter the narrow path of Life, for 'wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat.' "

I am now a happy and grateful member of that branch church, and I am also a member of The Mother Church. In the last few years, through my study of this wonderful religion, I have been healed of heart pain, extreme exhaustion, sorrow, and grief, as well as physical ailments. I am very grateful for Christian Science.

DELLA MARIE WRIGHT
Joplin, Missouri