Testimony of Healing January 8, 1996 Issue

I began my study of Christian Science more than fifteen years...

Shirley F. Schwaller

I began my study of Christian Science more than fifteen years ago during a bitter divorce. Leaning first on God as Love, I found myself walking a new path that led to a more harmonious, satisfying life, the result of divine Love's direction. Bit by bit, as I studied I gained a clearer understanding of God. Class instruction in Christian Science was a great blessing in this spiritual journey.

I felt like a bamboo shoot during those early years, growing quickly in character. The blessings poured in. I found an opening in the career of my choice through listening in prayer to God and humbly accepting the positions He led me to. I did well and progressed rapidly. I made new friends as my desire to lead a purer lifestyle—free from drinking and drugs—led me into developing new interests. I met and married a wonderful man after several years of being a single mother, fulfilling my desire to have a complete home. A Christian Science practitioner had lovingly pointed out to me the Biblical promise in Psalms "God setteth the solitary in families" (68:6). As a result, I had begun to cherish and express those qualities a man would desire in a wife—fidelity, faithfulness, nurturing, caring. These qualities did indeed attract a man who wanted a home and a family, as I did.

After my marriage, however, I began to experience physical problems, something I had not been troubled by before. I now faced for the first time decisions about spiritual healing versus medical care. I developed a lump in my breast. I called a Christian Science practitioner for help, and in a short while the lump disappeared. But another difficulty arose. I began to experience pain in my right arm. I was working at a large daily newspaper, and for the most part I ignored this situation, since it only occurred intermittently and my days were so busy with work, my new marriage, and, within eighteen months, a precious baby, plus my two older children to love and care for. Over the next few months, however, the situation worsened. Mobility in the arm was reduced, the pain increased and spread, and I experienced loss of energy.

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