The healing which I should like...

Eva Schofield

The healing which I should like to relate here came about as a result of reading for the first time the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy. I had no help from a Christian Science practitioner, and I had not then been in a Christian Science church.

For many years I had suffered from internal infections, gastritis, and ulcers and had sought healing through materia medica, including electrical and chiropractic treatments. Finally I underwent surgery, which brought relief for only a few years, but then the condition reappeared in a worse form. After more surgery I was sent home from the hospital with the verdict that I could not live longer than six to eight months. I had by then lost the use of my legs and could not sleep without a sedative. The despair and mental anguish resulting from the belief that I would soon leave behind a motherless family were even harder to endure than was the constant physical pain.

One day a stranger stopped at the door of our home and, seeing a member of the family in tears, asked the reason for such unhappiness. She was told I had been found unconscious. Very soon after I regained consciousness, she was talking to me, telling me she would bring me a book to read which would help me. I wondered what a book could do for me, but the kindly interest and calm assurance of the stranger had a quieting effect upon me. I agreed to accept the book.

I knew nothing about Christian Science, but when the textbook was placed in my hands I was told with compassion to read, pray, and be grateful. In the mental state I was in, nothing that I read meant anything to me. I was just reading words. However, there was evidence of the penetrating power of Truth in a very short time. The first sign of improvement was that I became able to sleep for half an hour at a time without a sedative.

After many weeks of reading and pondering, these words on page 402 of the textbook arrested my thought: "The life of man is Mind." A great illumination flooded my consciousness: My life was not a physical body. The image and likeness of Mind, Spirit, could not be physicality. It mattered not what condition this body seemed to be in, it was not I. It made no difference what it threatened to be doing, it could not touch or have any effect upon my spiritual identity. I knew I had found "the secret place of the most High" (Ps. 91:1).

My rejoicing that I had found God and my true selfhood was great. I could think of nothing else. I thanked God by the hour. The pages of the textbook were illuminated from that moment on. When members of the family inquired about my condition, I no longer gave a detailed account of bodily discomfort, but would always reply that I was wonderful, whole. Truly I had found "the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things" (Ps. 72: 18). Fear and pain ceased, and strength, health, and the use of my legs were restored. This healing took place twenty-four years ago and has been permanent.

In our home we have experienced healings of pneumonia, blood poisoning, broken bones, and so-called contagious diseases. One relative was healed of cancer, and another who was born with a defective valve of the heart was also healed.

For membership in The Mother Church and in a branch church, for class instruction, and for the consecrated life of Mrs. Eddy, I am profoundly grateful. My desire is to live so as to exemplify her words on page 356 of "Miscellaneous Writings": "A radiant sunset, beautiful as blessings when they take their flight, dilates and kindles into rest. Thus will a life corrected illumine its own atmosphere with spiritual glow and understanding."— (Mrs.) Eva Schofield, Lincroft, New Jersey.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Testimony of Healing

The blessings which I have received...

May 6, 1961

Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit