"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart...

Rose Tanner

"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him." As I read this verse this morning, I realized that testimonies are songs of praise; and as "my heart greatly rejoiceth" for help received, I gladly give this testimony.

It was not physical healing that led me to Christian Science. Often as a girl I wondered why we could not heal as Jesus did; and, not realizing the spirituality necessary, I tried repeating the words that he used, and was greatly disappointed that they brought no result. I might here add that religion was never discussed in my home, and I never went to Sunday school. The little I knew of the Bible I learned at school and when I read it at home alone; I understood practically nothing of its meaning. Our textbook has indeed been a veritable "Key to the Scriptures" for me; for when a dear friend told me of Christian Science, I knew at once that I had found what I had looked for in other religions.

During the first few months of my study of this Science I did not think I had any need of physical healing. Though I had always suffered great pain periodically, I thought this pain was necessary to a certain degree of health. When I came to India, the pain increased; and in my ignorance I often prayed for death. At last I underwent an operation, which gave only temporary relief, as the doctor had warned me would be the case. One day when the pain was very bad, a loving friend gave me a helpful thought, and I was very soon relieved. Since then I have been able to help myself, and now, by holding to the truth as revealed in Christian Science and never letting go, the demonstration is complete.

One day, while pouring boiling water into a teapot, I poured it all over my thumb. Immediately I denied the power of matter to feel, or of boiling water to hurt, and my thumb was not blistered or even sore. This was a double demonstration as, formerly, I had been inclined to see error as real before I denied its claim, and this had given me double work. I now deny the error immediately, and the healing takes place far more quickly, if not at once. One healing was instantaneous. I had had dysentery all night. In the morning, as soon as I heard my neighbor (a very loving friend) moving about, I sent her a note asking for help in Science, and was immediately healed. I have not had this trouble since, or even the fear of it. The fear of appendicitis also has been overcome with the aid of Truth. I knew that unless I got rid of the fear I might have appendicitis; and having had one operation, I did not want to undergo another. I felt the only way to rid myself of this fear was to study at once the Lesson-Sermons in the Christian Science Quarterly. That week the lesson was on "Love," and one of the sections in Science and Health was on page 302, lines 25–26. I did not stop there, but read on, "Man's true consciousness is in the mental, not in any bodily or personal likeness to Spirit." Like a flash the thought came to me that I could not have "appendicitis" in my mentality; and I was so amused at the thought that I burst out laughing, whereupon the pain in my side and the fear absolutely fled, and I could dress and go on with my housework.

There was such sorrow in the house one morning that the details when told me made me feel physically ill. As I had not yet read the Lesson-Sermon I sat down to do so, and then continued to read the Bible until I was healed completely.

With my heart brimming over with gratitude for all the help I have received through Christian Science, through the Lesson-Sermons and the periodicals, which are a never ending source of help and healing, and for having been able to overcome the sense of resentment against Mrs. Eddy's nationality and personality, I give this testimony,—my song of praise.—(Mrs.) Rose Tanner, Chesterton, Simla, Punjab, India.

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Testimony of Healing

Christian Science came into my life about fourteen years...

December 6, 1924

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