Testimony of Healing July 13, 1992 Issue

One day I was in the checkout line at the local supermarket...

Natalie C. Wesney-Gilchrist

One day I was in the checkout line at the local supermarket, with my handbag resting on top of the goods in the trolley. I turned my head for a few seconds to look at something, and when I reached for my handbag it was not there. The cashier saw a handbag on the floor of the next aisle and ran to retrieve it. It was mine, but the purse containing money, keys, credit cards, and so forth was missing.

We quickly telephoned the police, bank, and so on. While I was awaiting the arrival of the police, I looked for the quietest corner I could find in the mall to pray about the situation.

Love as a synonym for God was the first thing that came to mind. One of the marginal headings in Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy from that week's Bible Lesson was "Love casteth out fear." (It's also, of course, part of the well-known verse from First John, "Perfect love casteth out fear.") I prayed to be conscious of the spiritual facts that God's love was all that was present and active and that His love was embracing me and whoever had taken the purse. I recalled the line "His arm encircles me, and mine, and all" from Mrs. Eddy's poem "The Mother's Evening Prayer."

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