Testimony of Healing March 1, 1982 Issue

In the autumn of 1979 I woke one morning to...

CORDELIA F. ANDERSON with contributions from WARREN J. ANDERSON

In the autumn of 1979 I woke one morning to discover that one side of my face was paralyzed. Apparently I'd suffered a stroke. However, I knew that this condition could be healed. In fact, there was no question in my mind that it would be healed. My first line of defense was study of the Bible Lesson in the Christian Science Quarterly. After that I called a Christian Science practitioner for support. Then I went about my duties as usual, holding one side of my mouth shut with my fingers whenever I drank liquids or took in food. The practitioner had reminded me of an article in The Christian Science Journal, which emphasized that the real man cannot be stricken, and I pondered the article.

During this time I visited my son in Florida and attended his branch Church of Christ, Scientist, with him. His loving thoughts were most helpful, and I learned important lessons in self-immolation and patience. I also learned to express more love.

Mary Baker Eddy says (Christian Healing, p. 10), "There is but one side to good,—it has no evil side; there is but one side to reality, and that is the good side." I knew that Christian Science solves all problems when it is rightly practiced. Uppermost in my thought was the presence of the healing Christ. Also comforting was the ninety-first Psalm, which includes this verse (v. 11): "For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways." As I endeavored to hold fast to the fact of perfect God and perfect man, over a couple of months the affected muscles gradually strengthened until my face resumed its normal appearance.