I am most grateful to God for the beautiful and practical teaching of Christian Science, which has brought a variety of healings to our family.

One inspiring healing occurred in 1948. At the time our savings had been spent because of my husband's long absence from work. (He was not a Christian Scientist and had been ill for many months.) We literally had not even a penny left. Having come through the Depression, I did not think it was right to ask a Christian Science practitioner for treatment through prayer in regard to finances. (I was mistakenly believing that such a healing would deprive someone else of adequate supply.) I prayed deeply for some idea of how to meet our family's need. Our children were young, and their father needed round-the-clock care, so my looking for a job seemed out of the question.

I had no choice but to be more humble and to listen for an answer. I called a practitioner who had helped me before. I told him I didn't know how praying could bring us money, but that was what I needed right now—or so I thought. As the practitioner was talking to me about true, spiritual substance, our doorbell rang. He evidently heard the doorbell, for he suggested I answer it, indicating that my supply was at hand. Startled at this remark, I opened the door. It was a neighbor who had just come from a nearby farm where we bought our eggs and chickens. The farmer had told this neighbor that they hadn't seen us for quite a while and knew we surely needed some eggs. So he had given her a dozen eggs and also a chicken to bring to us.

In less than an hour, a delivery man brought a crate of oranges that a relative of ours in Florida had sent. Then came a telephone call from our butcher, saying someone had left some money on deposit for us to buy meat as we needed it. In the days that followed, relatives started helping us. Then a collection was taken at my husband's place of employment, a common practice at that time. We were so amply supplied, in fact, that we shared our abundance with a neighbor who was also in need.

I remember how thrilled and grateful I felt as I told about these proofs of divine Love's provision to the practitioner. His dedicated prayers and understanding of God's bountiful goodness had silenced the claim of lack with the scientific proof that God certainly does meet every need. Within two weeks my husband was well again, too. He rarely missed work due to illness from that time until his retirement about twenty-five years later. Also, the demonstration of ample supply marked a lasting change for us financially. We never again had similar problems.

Previously I had had many physical healings, but this experience served as powerful evidence to me that "there is nothing too hard for thee [God]" (Jer. 52:17). I wanted to know more of how to prove this consistently. Sincere study of the Bible and Mrs. Eddy's writings finally led me to apply for Primary class instruction in Christian Science. I was accepted. Going through class was the most significant step I've taken in my life. From then on, as my spiritual understanding grew, healing was the expected result of turning wholeheartedly to God, the only cause.

Three years ago I was healed of a painful condition that included the loss of hearing in one ear. I prayed as best I could, but when the situation did not change, I telephoned a practitioner for help. The fear left immediately. Just minutes after the call, the pain was gone, although I was still unable to hear. The practitioner worked for two more days. During this time I studied from the Bible and from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, the Christian Science textbook by Mrs. Eddy. I gained a better understanding of the true, spiritual nature of ears, of hearing, as well as of man's other immortal senses. A statement on page 162 in Science and Health was very helpful: "The indestructible faculties of Spirit exist without the conditions of matter and also without the false beliefs of a so-called material existence." My hearing returned to normal the following day. A short time later a small fleshy object passed painlessly from my ear. There has not been a recurrence of this problem since.

Recently, after reading from Science and Health, a friend remarked about what a wonderful and courageous woman Mary Baker Eddy was. Indeed! Her life and writings clearly prove this. Through them I have gained a more practical understanding of the works of the Master, Christ Jesus.

ELLEN J. KENT
Oceanside, California