Testimony of Healing August 14, 2000 Issue

Long-standing friction with family member healed

Charlotte L. Hume

I had a relationship problem with a cousin over the settlement of a will. An estrangement resulted, which lasted for more years than I wish to remember. Finally, I realized that I could do something about it through prayer.

In Science and Health, Mary Baker Eddy describes prayer that heals as "an absolute faith that all things are possible to God,—a spiritual understanding of Him, an unselfed love" (p. 1). So I knew that an understanding of God had to be the basis of my prayer. Throughout my life I have had a warm acquaintance with God as Father-Mother, as divine Love, which dearly loves all of its children and embraces them in eternal harmony, completeness, and satisfaction. But I needed to be more specific in understanding my relationship with my cousin.

The Bible is full of wonderful, healing statements that are applicable to any problem, and I found this one to be particularly significant: "Truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ" (I John 1:3). My relationship with my cousin was really based on my relationship with God, for, as Mrs. Eddy states with quiet authority and comfort, ". . . He is man's only real relative on earth and in heaven" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 151). There could, then, be no disruption, corruption, nor dissatisfaction in the relationship between God and His children. I knew that God's will for His children provides abundant blessings. And when one is blessed, all are blessed, because God's love is never given in limited amounts or unevenly distributed. It became clear, then, over several weeks, that I could rest in the truths of both of the above statements and could feel only a great love for this cousin. Criticism, righteousness, and condemnation completely dissolved. Divine Love was reflecting itself in love. It was a joyous time.