No room for guilt

Harry

I KNEW I WAS IN TROUBLE. I was driving a go-cart and had slammed my foot down on the accelerator rather than the brake. I went hurtling into an empty go-cart, and the steering wheel drove into my stomach and took all the breath out of me. I had a terrible pain in my stomach and couldn't walk. My friend's parents (who were in charge of the party) were very worried and insisted that they take me to hospital.

The doctors said I had internal bruising. They didn't give me any medication, but told me to come back if it got any worse. When I got home, the pain still hadn't stopped, and any sudden movements I made caused me to throw up. I knew that I could turn to God for help. Still, I was really worried as I was planning to go on a ten-mile family walk in two days' time on the South Downs (a hilly area in southern England).

When my mum got home from work that night, she helped me pray. I felt guilty that I had been reckless, and we talked about how I could get beyond those thoughts because they were keeping me from feeling close to God. Mum reminded me of a hymn I had learned in Sunday School. It talks about God being "the King of Love" and my Shepherd, "whose goodness faileth never" (Christian Science Hymnal, Hymn 330).

I could see that God is all around and there is no room for guilt or fear in His allness. This line in another hymn, "And as Thy glory fills the sky" (Hymn 1), really summed that up. I realised that God's love extends everywhere, no matter what had happened. I felt calmer and more peaceful.

The next day I'd stopped throwing up, but I still couldn't walk upright without it hurting. I spoke to my Sunday School teacher, who is also a Christian Science practitioner. She prayed for me and gave me a CD of healing hymns called Grace Notes which I found really helpful. I felt reassured that God was taking care of me.

The day after, I felt well enough to set off on the walk on the South Downs. It was when a thunderstorm forced us all to sprint for cover that I realised I was completely healed!

Harry, 13 / Esher, England

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Testimony of Healing

On one ski with God

November 30, 2009

Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit