I became interested in Christian Science during a period in my life when I felt fairly well satisfied with the religion I was studying. Then I met my husband-to-be, who was a student of Christian Science, and his religion fascinated me. I had many questions about the relationship of God and man, which had not been answered to my satisfaction. Christian Science answered these questions, and an understanding of the teachings of Christian Science came naturally for me. Since that introduction to Science, my family and I have had many wonderful healings through relying solely on God.

Shortly after I was married, I found employment in the area where we had just moved. However, I had a hard time with the other employees, and I felt I was being treated unjustly. I was not seeing my fellowman as the child of God, and within a year I lost the job. I then asked a Christian Science practitioner to help me gain a clearer sense of my unity with the Father. After two months of prayer and study of the Bible and Mrs. Eddy's writings, I found new employment and was much happier than I had been before. During this time, through my efforts to see others as truly God's children, I was healed of the need to wear eyeglasses.

When I was expecting our third child, I began working with a practitioner to gain a better awareness of God's presence, and to understand more fully the child's true, spiritual identity. We discussed why we study Christian Science—to feel closer to God, not simply for material results, a fact that became very clear to me at that time.

One day fluid began to leak (a month before the baby was due), and I was taken to the hospital. During the hours that followed, my husband and I were in close touch with the practitioner. The doctor on the case felt it was necessary to induce labor. The other doctors and the nursing staff expressed the concern that it might be necessary to take the baby by Caesarean section. My husband and I prayed, holding firmly to the fact that the revealing of a spiritual idea has nothing to do with the mechanics of matter. Shortly after that the doctors decided to keep me overnight.

The following morning, the doctor in charge came in and asked me if a Christian Science practitioner was praying for us. This doctor had been in attendance during the harmonious births of our two other children, so she knew about Christian Science. We indicated that a practitioner was helping us. The decision was made to send me home, although the doctor said that I should stay in bed. I planned to spend more time in the study of Christian Science. The practitioner visited me at home, and I continued studying the Bible and Science and Health. I felt very close to God. I knew that this child was under His care, and that there were no material laws to disrupt God's law of harmony.

After only two days at home, I woke one morning and went to the hospital at nine o'clock. At eleven o'clock we had a perfect, lovely daughter, and there were no indications of a premature birth. All of God's ideas are complete and unfold in His way. I later learned that when the other doctors told the doctor on my case that she should take the baby by Caesarean section, our doctor told them that we were Christian Scientists and were working it out our own way. For this wonderful opportunity to prove the power of Truth, I am truly grateful.

Our family has had numerous healings, including those of broken bones, a back injury, and earaches. We have also experienced protection in many instances, and we have been guided through prayer in finding a home and proper employment.

I would like to express my gratitude for the Christian Science Sunday School, where our children learn how to pray for themselves. One morning when our seven-year-old son woke, he could not stand or walk. He asked me to call a Christian Science practitioner to help him through prayer, which I did. The following day his leg was still sore, but he could move around a bit. Our son spoke to the practitioner, and she told him to look around and see all that he had to be grateful for. She also told him that every time his leg hurt, he should ask the Father if He knew about this; the response to that question had to be, as our son put it, "No way!" Immediately he could move more easily, and the next day he was completely free, joyfully playing basketball, baseball, and soccer. I am so grateful that our children are so receptive to this wonderful religion.

Words cannot express my deep gratitude for Christian Science and for the way of life it gives us.

RENEE D. VAN NIEL
Rolling Hills Estates, California

As a witness to my wife's wonderful healings, as well as my own, I add my deep gratitude for them, and for the greater peace and joy in our home. The back injury mentioned above occurred during my extensive sports activity. The recognition and acceptance of divine Love's ever-presence and unfailing support of my experience allowed me to fulfill all my obligations, although any movement seemed very painful. The healing took place when I refused to knuckle under to the pain and took visiting relatives to an amusement park. God, Love, illuminated my thought as I prayed during the excursion, often reciting to myself the words of "Mother's Evening Prayer" by Mrs. Eddy (Christian Science Hymnal, No. 207). The hymn begins, "O gentle presence, peace and joy and power;/0 Life divine, that owns each waiting hour." This healing has been permanent, and I continue to participate in vigorous physical exercise with no ill effects.

In Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy we are reminded (p. 58), "Home is the dearest spot on earth, and it should be the centre, though not the boundary, of the affections." Interestingly enough, each of our healings has made us more aware of the family as "the centre, though not the boundary," of our experience.

PIETER J. VAN NIEL