Plagued with a so-called incurable disease, I was directed, in...

Byron B. Haviland

Plagued with a so-called incurable disease, I was directed, in 1906, to the subject of Christian Science. I obtained a copy of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. Previous to that time all orthodox religions I had known indicated or stated directly that the reward of heaven must come, if at all, after death. As such teaching did not appeal to me, I had no serious attraction to or interest in any church organization.

Imagine, if you can, my joy when I opened the above-mentioned book and realized the importance, the power, of the first line of the Preface, which reads: "To those leaning on the sustaining infinite, to-day is big with blessings." A reward in the ever-present now! Here, for the first time, I found a promise that as I thought and lived today, so was my reward today. The realization of what that promise means was so great that I found I was healed of Bright's disease, which was the medical diagnosis of my difficulty.

From that day to this, Christian Science has been my only physician. I have experienced many healings by relying wholly on Christian Science. Some of these were broken bones and overcoming the effects of carbon monoxide gas, burns, seasickness, boils, and infection. Added to these, the false sense of lack has been replaced with ample supply. Once while I was peering into the furnace in my home, an explosion occurred, badly burning my face. With treatment through prayer by a devoted student of Christian Science, I was soon free from any sense of pain, and a complete healing followed in a few days.

At the birth of our first child, when medical attention was required by law, two surgeons were in attendance. After that experience my wife was confined to her bed for several months and needed to learn to walk again. During the birth of our second child, when Christian Science was employed, the birth was natural, leaving no harmful aftereffects.

When our son was about nine years of age, he injured his ankle on a rusty nail, and the wound became infected from the dye in his stocking. His leg, to the knee, was swollen and discolored. I applied what I knew of Christian Science, and the boy awakened the following morning completely healed. He dressed and went to school as usual. Both my daughter and I have been healed of skin irritation that covered almost the entire body.

During the past year I have been healed of a very severe case of arthritis. When first attacked with this disease, I was unable to attend to my own personal needs because of the loss of almost the entire use of my hands, arms, and legs. With the loving help of my family and the work of a devoted Christian Science practitioner, I am now free of this disease and able to take care of my own needs.

Words are not enough to express my gratitude to God for Christ Jesus and for the beloved Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, Mrs. Eddy, for the blessings which have been and continue to be mine through the study and application of Christian Science. I know from personal experience that as I, through spiritual understanding, continue to lean on God, "the sustaining infinite," I shall be blessed throughout eternity.

Byron B. Haviland
Seattle, Washington

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