"What's going on here? Up and down, up and down. One minute you are up; the next you are down. It seems to me that you would get tired of this situation. Isn't it about time for you to decide whether you are going to continue making a reality of these insidious beliefs or cast them aside once and for all?"

This sudden and sharp pronouncement hit me full force just as my compassionate and understanding husband had intended. It was time for me to wake up and realize that the beliefs that had plagued me for weeks were no part of me. God knew nothing about them, so I, the image and likeness of God, could not know them, either. The mesmerism was broken, and the healing began.

I seemed to have allowed myself to come under the bondage of numerous beliefs—nervous exhaustion, insomnia, poor appetite resulting in an alarming loss of weight, bladder infection, bursitis; and I was experiencing much difficulty in walking, bending over, sitting down and getting up. I was unable to carry on my normal duties at home or at church. Also uppermost in my thought was the knowledge that it would soon be time for me to return to my position as first grade teacher in a public school. I just didn't see how I could cope with it.

At the time, my husband was serving as First Reader in our branch church, and I shall always be grateful for his clear thought, loving devotion, and utmost compassion and patience while helping me to rise above these problems. He realized that I had to be startled out of this dream of sickness. His remarks did just that.

Although my complete freedom did not come immediately, it did come, and I shall always be grateful for the lessons learned through this experience. I had to replace impatience with patience, criticism with consideration and thoughtfulness, apathy with alertness, and ingratitude with gratitude.

I was able to return to my teaching duties in the fall. While it seemed that I was not quite up to my usual agile self, the principal, fellow teachers, and custodians unobtrusively and lovingly assisted me over the first few difficult weeks of the school term. Even my first graders were right there to help—holding my coat for me, picking up articles off the floor, or moving furniture, whenever they sensed the need. This was a period of mutual growth in consideration and understanding for all of us. Later, different ones at school acknowledged that Christian Science had done something for me.

The following statement from the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy, helped me so much (p. 215): "Whatever is governed by God, is never for an instant deprived of the light and might of intelligence and Life."

This healing occurred over ten years ago and has been permanent. My husband and I had been married only a few years when this problem presented itself. We both had previously lost loving companions, and what a joy it was for both of us to establish together a new and happy home. A favorite Bible quotation of ours is (Joel 2:25), "And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten."

My life has truly been blest through the study and application of Christian Science. I am grateful for class instruction from a dedicated teacher, and for membership in The Mother Church and a branch church.

(Mrs.) Orma D. Barton
Portland, Oregon

It is with joy and deep gratitude that I verify my wife's testimony. I too learned valuable lessons from the healings that took place. Through the application of the truths taught us in Christian Science there is revealed to us that, as God's children, we are the law to everything unlike good. I am indeed most grateful.

Clay Barton