I shall never cease to be grateful for class instruction, for the...

Margaret Withington

I shall never cease to be grateful for class instruction, for the annual association meeting, and for Mrs. Eddy's foresight in providing for these in the Manual of The Mother Church. Class instruction gave me a firm foundation and stabilized my progress Spiritward.

One of the first healings I had through my own efforts was that of fear of being alone, which was most aggressive at night. I was completely and permanently freed from this fear when I learned from the study of Christian Science that God is everywhere and fills all space. I then realized that I had been fearing products of my own imagination which had no real existence. I learned from this experience that fear of any kind is based on fake suggestions and when indulged in is a form of self-inflicted malpractice or mesmerism.

At another time, while living in a foreign country, my home, which I was renting privately, and all my belongings were completely destroyed by fire. My first thought in learning of the fire was one of gratitude that no one had been harmed. Also, my home was the only one destroyed, although others were only five feet away. I did not visit the scene that night, but I was reminded of the verses in Matthew (6:19, 20), "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal." These verses so uplifted me that I had no sense of loss. I clearly saw the importance of laying up "treasures in heaven," that our "treasures in heaven" are the ideas of Mind, and that these had not or could not be destroyed but are ever available to man.

The following day I was provided with other housing which would not normally have been available to me for another three months. I did not realize how perfectly I had been freed from all sense of loss until someone who was concerned for my welfare said to me several days later, "Why, you are smiling, and you look so happy!"

A physical healing which I experienced was that of infected toenails, a condition which I had over a period of two years. When the suggestion came to have the condition diagnosed, I knew that if I were to call myself a Christian Scientist, I had to take the stand that Christian Science does heal and prove it. I recalled what Paul says about change of mind in Romans (12:2), "Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind." This phrase was particularly significant to me in this instance, and I suddenly realized that the condition had not changed because I was holding it there in my own belief. I had such a sense of freedom that I completely forgot about my toenails. A week later I found them to be like new in texture and beautifully clear in color. I knew without a doubt that the healing was the work of God.

I am grateful for membership in The Mother Church and a branch church, and for all the activities of the Christian Science movement, including the rewarding experiences of serving as a Christian Science Minister for the Armed Services and as Second Reader in a branch church, which afforded me ample opportunity for spiritual growth.

Words are inadequate to express my gratitude for Christ Jesus, for his example and his priceless works, and for Mrs. Eddy and all she has done for mankind for all time through her discovery and founding of Christian Science.

(Miss) Margaret Withington, Atlanta, Georgia

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The Bible Speaks to You

RADIO PROGRAM NO. 241 - Meeting the Demands Placed upon Us

November 19, 1966

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