In her textbook on Christian Science, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy writes, “I was called to visit Mr. Clark in Lynn, who had been confined to his bed six months with hip-disease, caused by a fall upon a wooden spike when quite a boy”

(pp. 192–193). She goes on to describe the condition of the wound as shown to her by the doctor present, who said that the man was dying. After the doctor left, Mrs. Eddy went to the man’s bedside. “In a few moments,” her account continues, “his face changed; its death-pallor gave place to a natural hue. The eyelids closed gently and the breathing became natural; he was asleep. In about ten minutes he opened his eyes and said: ‘I feel like a new man. My suffering is all gone.’ ”

This reminds me of an experience I had some years ago. I had been assisting a friend in coaching a practice of my young son’s soccer team. When jumping up to loop the net over the hooks above one of the goals, I caught a ring finger on one of the hooks. When I came down, part of the finger was severed.

The bleeding was profuse. I wrapped the finger with a shirt as best I could and drove home. I called a Christian Science practitioner for treatment through prayer, and then began a long night of praying. I wish I could recall the many truths that flooded into my consciousness that evening, but I do recall feeling no fear, knowing that harmony simply had to prevail and that the man of God’s creating, being wholly spiritual, could not suffer from an accident, and that this was the true status of my being. However, the blood flow continued.

During the evening I drove myself to a Christian Science nursing facility to have the finger properly bandaged. My wife stayed home with our two young children. At the facility, the Christian Science nurses lovingly took me to a room with a bed and made me as comfortable as possible while tenderly bandaging my finger and hand. A few times during the night they reported to my wife that they had not been able to stop the bleeding. The practitioner was also informed of this, and in the middle of the night she arrived at the foot of my bed. It felt as though an angel had come to my bedside. Her calm, tender, firm, loving demeanor immediately replaced the atmosphere of fear. In about twenty minutes, the bleeding that had continued so ominously for hours simply stopped.  

I remained at that facility for two days as the wound began to heal, then I returned home and went back to work. Though shortened, the finger healed completely.

The power of prayer in Christian Science treatment was demonstrated so completely to me that night. The concern and aggressive appearance of injury were tangibly obliterated, quickly and surely. I am profoundly grateful for the power of God, divine Love, which transformed what appeared to be a desperate situation into one of peace and dominion.

The same Christly power of prayer brought by Mary Baker Eddy to Mr. Clark in Lynn over a hundred years ago was brought to my bedside with effectiveness and surety. Clearly, this Christ, Truth, is as fully operational today as it was in the past and will be for all time.

How can we be grateful enough for Christian Science practitioners—these dear guardians who devote their lives to helping others through healing, Christian Science prayer, and are willingly available 24/7 to meet any need? I am also grateful for the loving support of the Christian Science nursing staff during this experience.

I must add my deep gratitude for those fulfilling the privilege of reading in Churches of Christ, Scientist, in these times. Wherever there have been restrictions in place prohibiting group meetings, many have been going to great and unusual lengths to continue conducting regular Sunday church services and Wednesday testimony meetings for call-in listeners—church members, friends, and others in this needy world—sharing the comforting, healing Word of God from the Bible and Science and Health.

Frank C. “Pat” Daniels, Jr.
Prairie Village, Kansas, US