When my oldest son started attending...

Irene Pearl Rice

When my oldest son started attending school, the teacher and principal could not control him. He was always in trouble there and at home as well. I felt that one of the underlying causes was that I did not love him as I should, although I tried to hide this from the child. Thinking that Christian Science might help, I engaged a practitioner. When I learned in Science that God is Love and that both the boy and I Love's children, my attitude changed, and gradually the behavior problem was solved.

At this time a younger son was suffering from a distressing stomach and bowel condition. The doctors said that something was wrong with his organs and that he could not assimilate his food. Because this problem was physical, however, I did not think he could be helped by Christian Science. While work was being done for the older boy, I continued to take the little one back and forth to the hospital.

He had been operated on at the age of four months for enlarged adenoids, and he did not do well after that. He was very much underweight and would just sit and whimper. I tried all sorts of medicines to help him gain weight, but nothing worked. Because of excessive bowel movements, he was put on a special diet. When he was three I was told the adenoids were growing back. I questioned the doctor one as to why the child had never spoken, and I was told that probably the operation at such an early age had affected his throat, and that he would never speak clearly.

Some time after my older son had been having Christian Science help, the doctor examined the younger son's adenoids. He said that they were normal and that there would be no need for an operation. When I told the practitioner what had happened, she said that what had blessed one had blessed others, that God sees all of His children as perfect. From that time on I discontinued having medical help for the younger child and relied only upon Christian Science. There was no more diet, and the bowel condition was healed. In less than a year he gained seventeen pounds. The speech difficulty took longer, but it too became all right. The first clear word he spoke was the practitioner's name.

One Sunday as I was leaving our car a door was closed on the older boy's fingers. Although they were badly hurt, I took him and went on to church, where our practitioner was preparing to go on duty as an usher. She took him aside and wrapped a handkerchief around his fingers to hide them from sight. She told him that he was encircled by divine Love, and then she sent him off to Sunday School. To me she said in the words of Jesus (John 11:44), "Loose him, and let him go." I felt complete release from anxiety during the service, and when I took him home the only evidence of what had happened was a slight discoloration of one fingernail which cleared away in a few days.

I am very grateful for these demonstrations of God's love. Because of them and others my husband has started attending our branch church regularly, and my mother has started reading Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy. For membership in The Mother Church and a branch church and for the many loving friends who have helped me on my journey from sense to Soul, I am deeply grateful.—(Mrs.) Irene Pearl Rice, Centerville, California.

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May 12, 1956

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