Two days before he was to start the first grade, one of our boys...

Elizabeth Chase Herberich with contributions from Frederick David Herberich

Two days before he was to start the first grade, one of our boys fell from a jungle gym and landed on the back of his head on the concrete basement floor. My husband heard his cries and took him up to his room. All the while he affirmed aloud God's protecting presence and denied that there was any opposing power to disturb the harmony of our son's existence as the perfect representation of infinite Life.

Throughout the rest of the day and the night my husband and I took turns being with him when he called for help. The thought kept coming to me that he could not fall from grace, could not fall away from his oneness with God, and could not "fall from his high estate." The latter thought is stated more fully in Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy, (p. 258), "Never born and never dying, it were impossible for man, under the government of God in eternal Science, to fall from his high estate."

After he had slept quietly in the afternoon, I asked him if he would like to have me read to him. I thought he might enjoy some of his favorite children's books. He said he wanted me to read from the Bible and Science and Health. I read many psalms, the first chapter of Genesis, and much from I John and the Sermon on the Mount. Then, thinking that since he was only five years old he might rather hear stories, I asked if I should read some Bible stories. He said he wanted me to read "more of what will help the reason we're doing this." So I read from the chapter "Christian Science Practice" in Science and Health, and he continued to listen attentively.

The next day he was much improved, but still not as alert as usual. School was to start the following day, and we wanted him to be ready to go. When he retained neither breakfast nor lunch, I thought about calling a Christian Science practitioner for help. But I knew that the declarations of truth which had already been made were effective. More important, our son knew that they were effective and that he would be healed. This acknowledgment seemed to release us both. That evening he ate a huge supper, slept soundly through the night, and went off for the first day of school free from the experience. The healing was complete. Two points stand out to us. First, he knew what would do the healing: not his human mummy or daddy or any person, but the truth which was being affirmed. Secondly, he knew he should and was willing to do his part.

We are grateful to have this scientific healing religion which can be understood and demonstrated by any sincere student.

(Mrs.) Elizabeth Chase Herberich
Winchester, Massachusetts

I am happy to verify my wife's account of our son's healing.

Some time after his fall the boy was still crying and unable to find a comfortable position on his bed. It seemed clear that we had to handle the aggressive suggestion of pain. He is used to our discussing his true nature as a spiritual idea of God, so I pointed out that each time he cried out he was admitting that God, divine Love, could or would allow one of His ideas to be hurt and to suffer pain. He agreed not to consent to the false belief that tried to make him cry. In a few minutes he was sound asleep. During the night he awoke at various times; and as we did further prayerful work on his behalf, we could hear him rebuking the erroneous suggestion of pain by telling the error to go away.

I wish to add my gratitude for Christian Science, the religion to be used every day in every situation.

Frederick David Herberich

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