In the year 1900, when my grandmother, then a young wife and mother, was riding on an elevated train while visiting in a large city, a chronic migraine headache overcame her. The friend with whom she was traveling was a Christian Scientist, and seeing a Christian Science practitioner ahead in the coach, she asked Grandmother if she would like to speak with her regarding her distress.

Knowing little of this new religion, but feeling desperate, Grandmother agreed. The affirmations made by the practitioner were positive and healing, and upon arrival at the friend's home Grandmother went to sleep and awoke completely free.

Next day, eager to know how she had been healed, she visited the practitioner and also purchased a copy of the precious book, Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy. Quite alone in her study of Science, for there were no Christian Scientists in her small town, she began to read the textbook. Through her growing understanding she not only raised her three children in Christian Science, but through her interest in Science her own mother, three sisters and several of their children, as well as a niece, became dedicated Christian Scientists. That was the last headache Grandmother had, and today she is the marvel of all who know her, happy and well at age one hundred and four.

My mother was one of her children brought up in Christian Science, and my father has been a devoted student of this religion since their marriage. I was healed of a stomach disorder as a child, and my sister was healed of a serious ear infection. The ear drained, and she was well, following a long illness, when my father was counseled by a practitioner, "Go home and hold her in your arms and love her as you have never loved anyone before." Mrs. Eddy writes onpage 365 of Science and Health: "If the Scientist reaches his patient through divine Love, the healing work will be accomplished at one visit, and the disease will vanish into its native nothingness like dew before the morning sunshine." The practitioner had discerned the need, and when the change of thought occurred, the healing took place. The relationship between this father and daughter has remained particularly close through the years.

My husband has taken up the study of Christian Science since our marriage, and our four children have grown up free from fear, with almost no so-called childhood or other diseases. Through prayer to God, any symptoms have been promptly reversed before they could become serious. Our home has been increasingly filled with the warm qualities of love, health, joy, peace, consideration, and kindness. All this we owe to our little, spiritually-minded grandmother and that early practitioner, who brought Christian Science to our family, blessing four generations.

The blessing of class instruction has revolutionized my thinking. My life-motive is to further share with my community through every possible means this understanding of perfect God and perfect man newly revealed through Christian Science, which, when understood and applied can protect and heal a world as surely as it has blessed one family.

(Mrs.) Merilyn S. Knights
Greencastle, Indiana

The healing of the ear infection mentioned was cause for great rejoicing. I am the sister referred to in the testimony. I seemed to suffer the most at night and would cry out in pain. After several weeks the entire family was exhausted from lack of sleep. My father felt that my mother had spoiled me and that this was the cause of my problem. However, after he consulted a very wise practitioner, and learned that all that was needed was love, I responded immediately to his change of thought and experienced an instantaneous healing. It has been permanent. This healing remains a source of inspiration to our family.

(Mrs.) Gloria Smythe Burns