Testimony of Healing April 8, 1996 Issue

A cherished hymn in the Christian Science Hymnal states...

Sharon Stoughton-Jackson

A cherished hymn in the Christian Science Hymnal states, "Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven, / Who like us His praise should sing?" (No. 280) How majestically and precisely the words of this hymn express the practical application of Christian Science in my life. These words also speak clearly to what first attracted me to this way of life—it truly gives to God the glory due to Him.

As a young wife and new mother I began attending Christian Science services regularly. During that time our infant daughter was healed very quickly of a high fever through the prayer of a Christian Science practitioner. This proof that I could trust God to heal, inspired me to join a branch Church of Christ, Scientist. Shortly thereafter I discovered I was pregnant again. In preparing for the birth I spoke weekly with the practitioner who was praying with us. I discovered wonderful new insights into man's divine origin and perfect heritage and gained uplifting, soaring glimpses into the might, authority and power of God. When the time for the delivery came, to our joy and surprise two babies were born so quickly that a doctor was not even present at the births. The deliveries were totally without pain. This experience was such a stark contrast to my first pregnancy, when I had been relying on medicine, that I really began to get a glimpse of the truth and power in this passage from Proverbs: "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths" (3:5, 6). The promise of these verses was tested and proved time and again as we relied totally on Christian Science to raise three daughters.

One of our twins was born with a deformed leg. Because of concern of family members she was taken to a specialist who said the necessary correction could entail an operation. At the least it would require braces, weights, immobility, and an extended period of time, he said. After hearing the prognosis, I knew the most effective way to heal this was to turn wholeheartedly to the Father. We asked for treatment through prayer from a practitioner, and it soon became evident that what was really necessary was thoroughly to understand and demonstrate this precious guidance found in Science and Health by Mary Baker Eddy: "To divest thought of false trusts and material evidences in order that the spiritual facts of being may appear,—this is the great attainment by means of which we shall sweep away the false and give place to the true" (p. 428). As we prayed, I began to see clearly that the spiritual fact was our daughter's inherent perfection, forever intact. The complete healing came, and this daughter crawled and walked at a normal time, just like her twin sister. She enjoyed gymnastics and ballet lessons from toddler years on and participated in sports and the performing arts throughout her school years.

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