Testimony of Healing September 9, 1985 Issue

During this past Christmas season at the office, someone...

MAGGIE SUE FITZGERALD

During this past Christmas season at the office, someone brought in some hard candies. I took one to my desk, and later, while everyone else was in a meeting, I started to eat it. But before it had had time to dissolve to a smaller size, I must have taken a deep breath, for the whole piece of candy suddenly became lodged deep down in my throat—about the middle of my chest.

Immediately there were many fearful suggestions tempting me to believe that I had a life separate from God. I knew something would have to be done quickly, and the thought came to run for help to those in the meeting. But I knew this would not be the best solution. Any excitement certainly would not help. I was afraid to swallow or cough, and breathing was difficult. So I tried to sit still. But by this time I was actually shaking from fear.

Then I remembered that a Christian Science practitioner had once told me that even though a person were literally shaking with fear, he could still truthfully declare, "I am not afraid," because the only real "I" is Mind, God—not a defenseless, frightened mortal. The statement is true because God's dominion is complete and everlasting and He knows no fear. I began to think along these lines, knowing that I was not afraid, because I was in truth the image and likeness—the reflection—of God, Spirit. So I had dominion over all things. At about the same time I also recalled this statement from Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy (p. 463): "A spiritual idea has not a single element of error, and this truth removes properly whatever is offensive." As I thought this through two or three times, the piece of candy literally popped back up into my mouth.

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