Testimony of Healing September 16, 1985 Issue

When I was a young woman, I was soloist for...

RUTH J. McCLUSKEY

When I was a young woman, I was soloist for a branch Church of Christ, Scientist. At that time I was not interested in the teachings of Christian Science, but I did have great admiration and respect for the members of the church. Years later, when my father passed on, I remembered that Christian Science taught the eternality of life, so I went back to the town where that branch church was located and called on one member I had known at the time. When she greeted me at the door, all the intervening years melted away and she embraced me, voicing her delight at seeing me again. I told her what I had come for, and shortly she took me to the local Christian Science Reading Room, where I purchased a Bible, a copy of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, and a current Christian Science Quarterly, so that I could study the weekly Bible Lessons. She also showed me how to mark the Bible Lesson for each week and how to read it. She then told me that these books were where I would find the answers to all my questions.

At the time I was smoking three packs of cigarettes a day and, on occasion, drinking socially with friends. Although I grew to like the comfort that daily reading of the lesson gave me, I had no desire to give up smoking and drinking. Then I started attending a branch church in a neighboring town. I really didn't understand much of what I heard, but I always felt so at peace when I attended that I continued. One day, after I'd been going for a while, I decided I'd like to join this church. When I inquired, I was told that some of the requirements for membership were freedom from drug usage, smoking, and drinking.

That week's lesson included this statement from Science and Health (p. 406): "Resist evil—error of every sort—and it will flee from you." As I drove home one night I thought of this statement and decided to start resisting! I put out the cigarette I was smoking, and when I got home I threw away all the cigarettes in the house. For three wonderful days I was free from any desire to smoke. I recall thinking, "Boy, this is a snap! All you have to do is decide what you want and do it!" Famous last words!

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Testimony of Healing
My mother brought Christian Science into our home and enthusiastically...
September 16, 1985
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