Farm dog quickly healed
Raising three children on a farm in Northern Minnesota taught me to turn us continually to the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy, for healing. One passage our family frequently studied states: “All of God’s creatures, moving in the harmony of Science, are harmless, useful, indestructible. A realization of this grand verity was a source of strength to the ancient worthies. It supports Christian healing, and enables its possessor to emulate the example of Jesus. ‘And God saw that it was good’ ” (pp. 514–515 ).
One evening several months ago, just at dusk, I was walking our three horses out to pasture. Stopping at the barn, I grabbed a convenient piece of twine, and using it as a halter, led the gentle gelding out toward the gate about half a mile away. Our two frisky Halflinger draft horses were happily running circles around us, as the two big hunting dogs, Rowdy and Ruckus, were at their heels. (My husband has taught them to be cattle dogs as well.) It was a glorious, warm evening after a very long winter, and the atmosphere was one of gratitude and joy.
About midway to the gate, Ruckus, the less experienced dog, got too close to one of the galloping horses and was unintentionally trampled. This occurred right in front of me, and the scene was grave. It appeared that Ruckus’s back had been broken, and that he was passing on. Mentally pushing what seemed like a wall of fear out of the way, I instinctively began to pray and declare the truth. The Bible promises, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear” (I John 4:18 ), and it was this perfect love of God that calmed the anxiety, allowing me to listen to God’s messages.
For many months I had been thinking about part of Eddy’s definition of Church: “The structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle” (Science and Health, p. 583 ). This “structure” provides a better understanding of us as the image of God, as He sees us. Rather than being defined by the structure of backbone, muscles, nerves, etc., we are the reflection of divine Truth, Love, Principle, and Life. This is the divine structure that my precious pet, as an embodiment of divine qualities, manifested, too.
I also reasoned that God is omnipresent, filling all space. Therefore, any sense of accident, inharmony, chaos, or chance is impossible in Mind. God is omnipotent, the only power, excluding human laws. God, divine Love, is not just with us but also one with us, His perfect creation.
As grim as the picture seemed, my thoughts were filled with these liberating spiritual facts. It seemed right to keep walking the horse forward, holding steadfastly to these angel messages. Soon the three horses and I made it through the gate with Rowdy’s assistance, and still praying, I began walking back. As I approached Ruckus, who was lying off to the side of the pasture, I simply called, “Come on, boy, let’s go home.” At that moment he got up and literally raced the other dog back up to the house, completely free of injury. The gratitude I felt is impossible to explain—all I can say is my heart was filled with love for God and His Christ! We had witnessed instantaneous healing.
Entering the house, I mentioned to my husband that Ruckus had gotten under foot. “Yes,” he said, being a very observant farmer, “I noticed the flecks of blood on his legs and the bump on his head.” That was all that was said. By morning there was no evidence of the event at all. I should add that Ruckus developed no fear of the horses either.
Debby Miller
Bemidji, Minnesota, US
