Testimony of Healing January 8, 2007 Issue

WHEN GOD CAME FIRST, SUCCESS FOLLOWED

GEORGE B. MERRY

Before I was ready for college, I managed to scrape together enough money for my first year's tuition at a local university, through summer jobs and part-time work. Then just before it was time to report for class, I was suddenly bedridden with flu-like symptoms. A Christian Science practitioner prayed for me, and my mom read me the Bible Lesson each day from the Christian Science Quarterly, until I was able to read it on my own. I felt God's love and was completely healed, and began my classes.

I had missed a week of classes and the entire orientation, and at first the fast study pace seemed overwhelming because of this setback. But soon I felt I'd adjusted. Then one day I was called to my advisor's office to review my midterm provisional marks. All but one of my grades were F's. The lone exception was a D. My advisor suggested that these marks indicated that I would not make it academically, and that instead of wasting more time and money, I should consider withdrawing—before I flunked out. He also suggested that I seek a different career direction from the one I'd chosen.

I was devastated! And disappointment engulfed me as I thought of how I must break the grim news to my loving parents and sister. While on my way home, I kept repeating to myself, "You are not a failure, you are not a failure, you are not a failure!" Then these words came to thought: "... 'man's extremity is God's opportunity'" (John Flavel, a 17th-century clergyman, quoted in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, p. 266).