It is with a grateful heart that...

Elisabeth E. Thorsen

It is with a grateful heart that I offer this testimony. In the Scriptures we read: "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." The most precious gift was given to me in 1920, when I accepted Christian Science for physical healing. Through the years it has been a constant light for daily guidance and protection.

Christian Science came to me in an hour of need after many years of poor health, caused by stomach trouble and sick headaches. I had known of Christian Science and its healing power, but being prejudiced against Mary Baker Eddy I refused to read her book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," and continued to carry my burden of sickness and woe.

It was through the instantaneous healing of a sister of mine that my eyes were opened. She had a relapse after an attack of influenza and could not reach my mother. Being very fearful, she called a friend, who came to her with an aunt of hers, a student of Christian Science. Through the help given her by this student a complete healing resulted. The change in my sister was so marked that I told myself, "Some day I am going to be so sick of being sick I am going to take up Christian Science."

Some time later I became ill again, but this time I asked my sister for Science and Health, which she brought to me. God heard my prayer, for I felt I was healed before I ever started to read the book. I shall never forget the flood tides of inspiration which swept over me as I read the opening words (Pref., p vii): "To those leaning on the sustaining infinite, to-day is big with blessings," and which continued through to the last testimony in the back of the book. All I ever wanted to know about God, man, and the universe was in those pages. I forgot my prejudice entirely, and since that time no one could have more reverence than I have for our Leader, Mrs. Eddy. With the "key" to the Scriptures I too unlocked the treasures in the Bible, which I used to call the book of contradictions, when I prided myself on being an atheist.

Our Leader tells us in our textbook (p. 209), "Spiritual sense is a conscious, constant capacity to understand God." Our Lesson-Sermons help us in our journey from sense to Soul, and I am deeply grateful to those who prepare them for our study.

I also owe a debt of gratitude to our practitioners, who are always ready to serve and help us. My father had a wonderful healing at the age of seventy-six, after weeks of illness which resulted in a stroke and partial paralysis. The physicians told us he was too old to be saved. He finally consented to try Christian Science. The doctor was dismissed, and work was taken up by a consecrated practitioner, with the result that he was with us until well past eighty years of age. As I witnessed this beautiful healing I began to desire the privilege of church membership, and I became a member of The Mother Church and of a branch church. Active participation* in various church activities brought to me more spiritual unfoldment; and the joyous privilege of class instruction is counted as one of my greatest blessings.

In closing I should like to express gratitude to God for each and every part of this great movement which is bringing about the "healing of the nations," proving that "God is no respecter of persons."—(Mrs.) Elisabeth E. Thorsen, San Diego, California.

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Testimony of Healing

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