From early childhood I longed to...

Mary Edmonson Bushnell

From early childhood I longed to understand the Bible. Much in it seemed contradictory, and I could not understand why my prayers were not always answered.

It was a number of years later that Christian Science came to me as a direct answer to my prayer for spiritual understanding. I saw that the false concept of man as mortal, limited, and frustrated was being replaced in my experience by the understanding that he is spiritual, harmonious, and joyous. This spiritual understanding has met my needs for many years, and my healings have been numerous and inspiring. I was healed of ivy poisoning so severe that I could not see. I was reminded to search my thinking for any lurking error, and when I did and replaced resentment with love and gratitude, the healing was completed in four days.

One Christmas Eve, about six years ago, our small daughter suddenly became very ill. We had recently moved to a new town, and we had no telephone with which to call for help. I sat by the bedside of this little one with a prayer that my understanding of God, the divine Principle of healing, would meet her need, and I sang hymns until she fell asleep. Then, opening my Bible, I read these words (John 3:16): "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son." My thought was arrested. "Who," I asked myself, "is this 'only begotten Son'?" And the answer came, "It is the Christ, the light of Truth and Love, revealing to me that my child is, in truth, God's own child, His perfect manifestation." Then I read the rest of the sentence: "that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." "Of course I believe in the Christ, Truth," I said, "and I believe that man is spiritual and perfect now and forever," I sat for some time thanking God for His great gift to the world.

I then picked up "Miscellaneous Writings," in which Mrs. Eddy, speaking of the Wisemen's growth in the understanding of Christ, says (p. 164), "Their highest human concept of the man Jesus, that portrayed him as the only Son of God, the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and Truth, will become so magnified to human sense, by means of the lens of Science, as to reveal man collectively, as individually, to be the son of God." This revelation included the true selfhood of the members of my family who were not Christian Scientists and destroyed my fear of their fear for the child.

A great burden of false responsibility was lifted from my consciousness. When I looked at the child again, the fever was gone. She arose on Christmas morning, healed, and we had a truly happy Christmas. At the same time she was healed of a condition which had annoyed her since babyhood.

For the innumerable blessings which have come to me as a result of the study and application of Christian Science, I give thanks to God. I am grateful to all those who have so lovingly helped me and for the privilege of serving our Cause.— (Mrs.) Mary Edmonson Bushnell, Bellingham, Washington.

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Testimony of Healing

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April 28, 1951

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