Healed of chickenpox

One Monday evening in June 2012, as I came home from work, I felt very cold and weak. The next morning, I still did not feel well but went to work nevertheless. Around 10:00 a.m., I noticed red spots on my face and arms. My colleagues started to notice and asked me to go home. When I got home, my brother arrived, showing the same symptoms as mine. He had also left work and had stopped at a pharmacy. Having been told that he had the chickenpox, he’d bought some medicines recommended for treating his symptoms.

As for me, I decided to put into practice the teachings of Christ Jesus as explained by Christian Science, where prayer alone brings healing. In the Gospel of John, Jesus said, “He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also” (14:12 ).

I had learned that, as the image and likeness of our Father-Mother God (see Genesis 1:26, 27 ), I cannot be sick because God is never sick. In Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy explains that man reflects God. Therefore, matter does not constitute the real, spiritual man who we all are. I had also learned from the Bible that all that God made is good (see Genesis 1:31 ), and that He is the “builder and maker” of creation (see Hebrews 11:10 ).

On Wednesday, despite my prayers, the condition had worsened. I felt tired and had no appetite. But I was not fearful since I knew that I would be healed by the omnipotent power of God. Now, according to the laws in my country, I needed a medical certificate to justify my absence from work. The doctor at the hospital said that I was suffering from chickenpox, and that it was a good thing that I had come to see him since this disease can cause some serious complications in an adult and can sometimes be fatal. He mentioned a list of all possible complications. Then he advised me to go buy some medicines right away (similar to the medicines my brother had), and to get some tests done, since this is what doctors usually recommend in Togo to confirm a diagnosis. I thanked him, went back home, and kept on praying.

On Thursday I called a Christian Science friend for treatment though prayer. He prayed with me until the condition was healed. He told me that God created man perfect; therefore, sickness had no place in the real man. He invited me to reflect on what Christ Jesus said: “I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world” (John 6:51 ). For me, this meant that Jesus’ healings confirmed man’s immortality, and that healing was possible for me, too.

My friend gave me another citation: “The material body manifests only what mortal mind believes, whether it be a broken bone, disease, or sin” (Science and Health, p. 402 ). This made me understand that symptoms were nothing but a human belief manifested on the body. I told my friend how much his words had comforted me, and that I felt much better.

The next day, the condition started to diminish. The spots started to heal, and my appetite came back. In the following days, while I was home, I thought a lot about Jesus’ healings. Less than a week later, I was completely healed.

As requested by law, I had to go back to the hospital to obtain a certificate to be allowed to go back to work. Since there was no trace of the condition, I did not have any difficulty obtaining this certificate. My colleagues were surprised, not expecting to see me back so soon. As a matter of fact, I was completely well before my brother. And I never had any aftereffects.

This healing has given me much comfort. I am convinced that God is the Life of man, and therefore man is completely spiritual.

Tchara Edzareseba
Lomé, Togo