Few have had more for which to...

Stuart E. Johnson

Few have had more for which to be grateful to God than I during the past thirty odd years since my first healing in Christian Science, which was chronicled in the August, 1916, issue of The Christian Science Journal; but for an experience during the present world conflict I wish especially to express my gratitude at this time.

Eight days after Pearl Harbor I received a telegram from the Navy Department in Washington, telling me that my eldest son had been killed in action in that never-to-be-forgotten battle. The shock was almost more than our little family could stand, especially in view of the fact that only three months before this young man had been offered an appointment to the naval academy but had turned it down, saying that he felt that his duty was to stay by his present job, in the light of what might be ahead.

Naturally our family started to work as we had been taught in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy. We soon found that we were unable to do our work properly because of constant interruptions by well-meaing friends, who tried to comfort us in what seemed a great loss and sorrow. We gathered the family together and journeyed to a distant city where we would be able to work and pray without ceasing, and after three days we returned to our home to find a second telegram telling us of our son's complete safety, and that he was about his work.

Later, when this young man was home on furlough, he told us of his experience. He had been saved from almost certain death by going on an errand of mercy for his friends, thereby being saved from the first bomb, although he was knocked out by a second one. He was given up for dead, and was left under constant machine gun fire for more than an hour before he came to. The only thing he had left from his ship after it was abandoned was his watch, whose works were completely mashed together and stopped running at six minutes after eight, the time the first bomb hit the ship.

A few hours after the battle the young man was assigned to another ship, where he has been on duty in fourteen major naval engagements, and while he has escaped many near disasters he finds that by trusting his heavenly Father he is constantly assured of protection not only for himself but for his friends.

Without the comfort of knowing that God looks after all our loved ones, and that divine Love surrounds all of His children, it would be hard indeed to keep from worrying, but having the teachings of Christian Science we are able to think clearly and lovingly about God and all His ideas.

We are most grateful for our beloved Leader and for the many years of untiring effort which she put forth to give us this light that "shineth in darkness," and in her words we shall continue to pray (Poems, p. 4):

"O gentle presence, peace and joy and power;
O Life divine, that owns each waiting hour,
Thou Love that guards the nestling's faltering flight!
Keep Thou my child on upward wing tonight."

—(Captain) Stuart E. Johnson, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

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