Testimony of Healing February 2, 2004 Issue

My prayer was 'doing something'

Iva Okesson

Some time ago, a rash broke out on both of my hands. The condition, which involved troubling secretions, was not only uncomfortable and unsightly, but also interfered with some of my normal functioning at home and at work. The first time this occurred, my husband, who was not a Christian Scientist, insisted that I see a physician, out of tender concern for my well-being. The condition was diagnosed as dermatitis.

I did not return to the doctor, but called a Christian Science practitioner to work with me for healing through prayer. At the time, I was employed as clerical worker for a lumber company, and my job entailed typing and working with a calculator, among other duties. While it was impossible to conceal the condition, I nevertheless continued at my job and performed these tasks with as little interruption as possible.

Each day at noon, I would go to my car, which was parked some distance from the hustle and bustle of the lumbermen's lunchtime gathering. There, I read Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, and thought deeply about the truths the practitioner was sharing with me. I prayed to understand myself better as what Science and Health calls "the idea of God"—whole, complete, and perfect. As I wholeheartedly accepted my actual identity as idea, my connection with God as the divine Mind became more real to me. I saw with greater clarity that the one, perfect Mind was my source of wholeness, and that this wholeness included sound health and freedom from disease.