My first contact with Christian Science...

Dorothy Girton Peterson

My first contact with Christian Science was made when I was in my early teens and my mother was healed of constipation of many years' standing. She was at a practitioner's home for lunch one day when a certain kind of pie was served. Mother remarked that she was unable to eat anything of that nature, but the practitioner told her that the pie actually had no power to harm her. Mother did eat it, there were no ill effects, and the difficulty disappeared completely.

In later years I grew away from Christian Science and eventually found myself having medical treatment for a form of neuralgia. But since I gained no permanent relief I stopped consulting doctors and did nothing. However, one Saturday night I awoke in much pain. I did not want to disturb anyone, so I decided I would wait until morning when my sister, a Christian Scientist, would call at my apartment on her way to church as she did each Sunday. I would then ask her to telephone a practitioner for me.

When she came I told her of the difficulty. She asked me to whom I wanted her to telephone; and after some deliberation I gave her a name, and she dialed the number. When the practitioner was on the line I talked to her and asked her to give me treatment. Then I went into the living room and lay down on the davenport, pondering the words to which she had referred me. These are in Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy and read (p. 113), "There is no pain in Truth, and no truth in pain; no nerve in Mind, and no mind in nerve."

I soon fell asleep; and when I awoke a little later I was entirely free of any pain, and it has never recurred. I began attending church soon after that and in due course joined The Mother Church and a branch church.

Another healing I should like to share occurred one night when I was getting ready for bed. I ran a very sharp pin into a finger, and it began to bleed profusely. It occurred to me that I must not get any blood on my clothing, and immediately these words of Mrs. Eddy came to me (ibid., p. 475): "Man is not matter; he is not made up of brain, blood, bones, and other material elements."

I got as far as the word "other" when the flow of blood stopped as though a faucet had been turned off; there was no more pain, and I could not even find the place where the pin had gone in. I was very grateful to God for this further proof of His healing power.

All healings have not been so quick, but we are told in Habakkuk (2:3), "The vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry."

I am very grateful to God for the power of His Word, which Christ Jesus showed us is always available, and for Mrs. Eddy's unselfishness in giving Christian Science to the world. I should like to express my gratitude too for the love and patience shown by the practitioners, who help us on our way.—(Mrs.) Dorothy Girton Peterson, La Jolla, California.

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