Testimony of Healing May 31, 1999 Issue

Broken arm quickly healed through prayer

Mary Cecelia Paine

I was walking my dog when suddenly I tripped and fell. Later I learned that I was knocked unconscious and that the barking of my dog had alerted neighbors. They had taken me to the emergency room of a nearby hospital. I regained consciousness shortly after arriving at the hospital. The doctor was X-raying my shoulder and saying that my collar bone, my elbow, and my wrist were broken. He was prepared to operate and insert steel pins to hold the bones in place. I asked if there was an alternative, and he said I could be completely immobilized for the six to eight weeks it would take the bones to heal. I chose to do that instead.

My dear neighbors took me home and placed me in a large recliner chair where I had a magnificent view of the river harbor. This view of freedom and natural beauty was a facet in my quick healing. Studying the citations from the Bible that referred to the arm of the Lord and that my daughter had sent by overnight mail encouraged me to mentally cast off the wrappings of the expected material healing process and to slip into the fresh robe of spiritual inspiration. I acknowledged God's everpresence, strength, power, and authority — His care and love for each of us in times of need, discomfort, or struggle.

I found this passage from Job particularly helpful: "Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him? Deck thyselfnow with majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty" (40:9, 10). This reinforced my conviction that the Christ was present to help, heal, and harmonize my thinking. I also asked my loving neighbor to read to me what Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy says about Christ Jesus' three days in the tomb after the crucifixion. Jesus, Science and Health points out, "met and mastered on the basis of Christian Science, the power of Mind over mat ter, all the claims of medicine, surgery, and hygiene