Testimony of Healing September 14, 1998 Issue

Healed of smoking and social drinking

Janet M. Perry

A deep sense of gratitude and love for Christian Science prompts me to share a healing I had of cigarette smoking. I knew the attraction to this addiction was false, as I had been raised as a Christian Scientist. But it seemed to be the "in" thing to do when I entered college. I hid this addiction from family members and church friends, because I knew this behavior was uncharacteristic of me and inconsistent with the teachings of Christian Science. I continued to smoke secretly, and only a few friends knew of it.

When the smoking habit became coupled with social drinking, these behaviors grew to be sources of great discontent and unrest in my daily living. I couldn't feel any connection to God or to church. Although I would attend Christian Science church services, I knew in my heart I could not continue to "serve two masters." I began to question my purpose for living and searched desperately for a sense of well-being. It finally and forcefully occurred to me that if I was going to find any peace in my life, I needed to quit smoking. Human will had failed many times, so out of a pure desire to listen to God, I turned wholeheartedly to our Father-Mother. I remember thinking, "I am turning to You, God. Please show me how to understand that I have the strength and courage to give up this false sense of pleasure and yield to Your will."

The emotional upheaval I experienced overwhelmed me as I struggled to end a habit that had seemed to provide pleasure for so long. I called a family member, who spoke calmly to me and reminded me to "trust in the Lord with all thine heart" (Prov. 3:5). He was supportive and did not judge me. Then, I immediately called a Christian Science practitioner, who invited me to visit with her the next day. While I was in her office, she lovingly spoke to me of God's all-power and ever-presence. She assured me that because I had taken this stand and was making an effort to give up this destructive habit, God would surely support me. She reminded me that Science and Health assures us, "Resist evil—error of every sort—and it will flee from you" (p. 406). I left the practitioner's office feeling so loved and uncondemned. I knew that healing was taking place.