Testimony of Healing September 24, 1984 Issue

In a paragraph with the marginal heading...

ROBYN JOYCE WARD

In a paragraph with the marginal heading "Scientific obstetrics," Mary Baker Eddy writes in the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures (p. 463): "Teacher and student should also be familiar with the obstetrics taught by this Science. To attend properly the birth of the new child, or divine idea, you should so detach mortal thought from its material conceptions, that the birth will be natural and safe."

When I was five months pregnant with our fourth child, the physician on the case diagnosed a condition called placenta previa. He said that at best this would necessitate a Caesarean delivery. At worst, in his opinion, it might involve prenatal hemorrhaging (commonly associated with this condition) before the baby was mature. He said that if hemorrhaging occurred, immediate surgery would be called for and the baby's survival would be unlikely. I was grateful that the physician, a kind and thoughtful man, was prepared to leave to me the decision of whether or not to enter hospital straightaway.

Later, though, I found it difficult to be consistent in keeping my thinking above fear and apprehension. The medical verdict loomed large, and I spent much time in bed. I was blessed by having the loving and strengthening prayerful treatment of a Christian Science practitioner. Early in our work together the practitioner referred me to an editorial in the Sentinel. The editorial made it clear to me that physical symptoms of disorder, although they appear to be manifested bodily, are really no more than false mental pictures. Consequently, one need not feel helpless, because he can always correct his thinking.

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