Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy tells us (p. 253): "If you believe in and practise wrong knowingly, you can at once change your course and do right." Many times this statement has given me the courage to face, or to continue meeting, a challenge and completely overcome it through Christian Science. The Christian Science periodicals have also been a wonderful support and inspiration.

At an early age I attended a Christian Science Sunday School and learned to rely on God, I memorized many passages from the Bible and Science and Health, and I always prayed before going to sleep. When I was about seven years old I had stomach cramps every night and would often get out of bed and go to my mother to tell her of my discomfort. One night my father, who was a student of Christian Science, encouraged me to turn to God in prayer. I did this, and although I do not recall exactly what my prayer was, I experienced my first instantaneous healing. A feeling of being new from head to toe came over me, and I never suffered from this trouble again.

When I was a young working woman out of college I was searching for the right companion. Then, after much prayer, I decided to look for new employment. No sooner had I made this decision than a friend called saying she knew someone who needed a person with my skills right away. At first I was reluctant to pursue the position because the arrangements did not coincide with my planned timetable. But I prayed for God's guidance and realized that self-will and human planning needed to be put aside. I gratefully accepted the position. In the first week at my new job I met my future husband.

God's guidance in finding the right house was beautifully evident on one particular occasion. In the past when buying a house I had let emotion rule, and this had resulted in poor decisions and great expense. But when I again had an opportunity to find a new house, I decided to work it out through prayer and correct my concept of home. After praying about the situation I felt confident that because God's work is done, I did not have to search urgently for a harmonious resolution. A good outcome was already established by God.

One day my husband and I were driving somewhere when he made a wrong turn. In front of us I saw a truly lovely house and asked him to stop so I could take in its beauty. He laughed and said I should go to the door and ask if it was for sale. So I did. (This was a Thursday.) The people who lived there said they were intending to put the house up for sale the following Tuesday. They showed us the house; we found it perfect in every way for our needs, agreed on a price right then, and to this day it has brought us much joy.

Progressively, over a period of about a year several of my fingers became swollen and painful. One day I decided not to put up with the suggestion of arthritis any longer. While going for a walk one morning, I prayed specifically about the condition. I felt no fear as I saw so clearly that the trouble was only "a bald imposition," as Science and Health declares in this sentence (p. 99): "The calm, strong currents of true spirituality, the manifestations of which are health, purity, and self-immolation, must deepen human experience, until the beliefs of material existence are seen to be a bald imposition, and sin, disease, and death give everlasting place to the scientific demonstration of divine Spirit and to God's spiritual, perfect man."

I realized that I'd been claiming God's love and perfection for others but felt I was not worthy of it myself. Immediately I realized that I was entitled to be healed right then and that all the good in the universe is for me too. As I prayed in this manner I could feel the swelling subside and by the time I finished my walk it was gone. The healing has proved complete.

I am profoundly grateful for Christian Science.

Sylvia V. Johnson
San Marino, California