One day our fifteen-month-old daughter became ill. By evening I was overcome with fear when it became apparent that she was paralyzed in the head, neck, shoulders, and upper back. As quickly as possible a Christian Science practitioner was called to begin immediate prayerful work. From having often proved the effectiveness of Science, I knew this was a reliable approach to the situation; and I had no feeling of neglecting the care of the child.

Throughout the next day the work by the practitioner continued. Mary Baker Eddy says in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures (p.412): "Mentally insist that harmony is the fact, and that sickness is a temporal dream. Realize the presence of health and the fact of harmonious being, until the body corresponds with the normal conditions of health and harmony.

"If the case is that of a young child or an infant, it needs to be met mainly through the parent's thought, silently or audibly on the aforesaid basis of Christian Science."

At first this statement frightened me, but then I reasoned how wonderful it is, because at least I could do something about my own thoughts. A feeling of sympathy had to be eliminated. Jesus had compassion for others. But compassion, as used in the Bible, is higher than sympathy, because it implies lifting a person out of trouble. Sympathy tends to leave an individual where it finds him. A fear that the paralysis might leave aftereffects or even be permanent had to be destroyed. The practitioner helped me to recognize that the only permanent things are from God. And because this child belonged to God and was created in the image and likeness of God, she could express only Godlike qualities, which include freedom, activity, comfort, and harmony. She didn't have to "get" these qualities—she already had them.

The turning point came during the second night. The practitioner asked me to search my thinking to see in what way I could be more obedient. I knew she meant obedient to God, to the teachings of Christ Jesus, and to the practice of Christian Science. After the rest of the household was quiet, I looked up the word "obedience" in a dictionary. Parts of the definition read "submission to authority" and "the act or habit of obeying." I knew "habit" could signify an easy and natural action. I reasoned that "submit" meant to give in completely. Suddenly I felt that I must and I could naturally and easily submit this little one to God's loving care. I went to sleep peacefully.

The next morning I awoke knowing that the healing had taken place, although our daughter still seemed to be unwell, I remembered that Jesus gave thanks to the Father for Lazarus' expression of life before it was visible to the human eye. I felt confident to do the same. My thought was filled with joy and happiness.

Suddenly about noon the child began to show signs of improvement. A call to the practitioner to relay this happy news brought the assurance that our daughter, in her real being, expressed total freedom. During the next few hours the child rolled over, sat up, crawled, stood, and finally walked. By early evening she was completely healed. We gave her a bath, dinner at the table, and a walk to the corner of the street.

Christian Science is the most splendid gift parents can offer to their children. I'm so grateful that it was given to me at an early age and that I can now share it with someone else. I also feel a deep sense of gratitude for the dedicated, prayerful work of Christian Science practitioners throughout the world. How wonderful that Mrs. Eddy established the office of Christian Science practitioner in order to help heal the world.

(Mrs.) Floyanne Radzinski
Tulsa, Oklahoma [Original in Italian]

I was healed thirteen years ago thanks to Christian Science, and today I am a happy woman. At that time I was ill with a mental disorder which did not permit me to go out of the house, even to take a walk, and I was afraid of the street and of people. The doctors—and I had consulted several—had me take remedies which turned out to be useless. The last doctor I consulted suggested electric shock treatment to me, or treatment in a nursing home. I was desperate.

It was just at this point that a friend spoke to me about Christian Science and of God—of a God who loved me and was a friend to me. Up to that time I had only feared God. He seemed far from me, and I felt unworthy of His grace.

This acquaintance explained to me that, on the contrary, God is ever-present Spirit, infinite divine Love. He is always with us and speaks to our heart; it was necessary to become aware of it and to change my thinking from a material standpoint to one of recognition of man's nature as an idea of Spirit, God, reflecting divine intelligence. From that moment on, my understanding that God was with me gave me courage. The first time I went out my friend said to me, "Put your hand in God's." And so I did, like a trusting child.

What a joy it was to begin to move among people again, and to do all those things which fill our lives and make them rewarding!

After this healing I began to advance in the study of Christian Science, and other joys and blessings came to me. I am grateful for the diligent help of a Christian Science practitioner. I shall never forget her words, which are always an incentive to me: "Continue to study and pray; don't live on capital but renew your knowledge of Science every day."

I should like to conclude by expressing my deep gratitude to God for Christ Jesus, His Son, and for His messenger for this age, Mrs. Eddy. I am also grateful for having taken class instruction, the first that has been held in Italy, and for serving as a Reader in a branch Church of Christ, Scientist.

(Mrs.) Jone Olivares
Milan, Italy

This testimony of the healing of a heart condition is given in the hope that others suffering with a similar ailment may be encouraged to seek healing through the study and application of Christian Science as set forth in the textbook, Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy.

My husband, who had just begun the study of Science as the result of having had a previous cardiac problem, found himself experiencing a repeat performance. This occurred during a meeting of the executive committee of a large corporation. He had important duties to perform at that meeting. His presence was needed. He turned unreservedly and wholeheartedly in silent prayer to God for help. Instantly he found himself mentally repeating over and over "the scientific statement of being" as found on page 468 of the textbook, with particular emphasis on the first sentence, "There is no life, truth, intelligence, nor substance in matter."

The reality of being took on new meaning for him. He found he could accept the truth of the above quotation, that matter does not denote intelligence, neither does it constitute life. The symptoms became less noticeable and he was able to complete the duties required of him to the adjournment of the meeting, which took more than an hour. This promise of God describes his feeling (Deut. 33:12): "The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by him; and the Lord shall cover him all the day long." A sense of peace seemed to surround him throughout the experience. Upon his arrival home, we prayed earnestly and expectantly, covering every aspect of this claim of illness.

Because of his position in the company, my husband was obligated to call a physician. An electrocardiogram was taken which showed bad signs. However, this information was not revealed immediately. A request by my husband that no medication be prescribed was honored by the physician and none was administered.

We knew that because God is Life, and man was created by Him in His image and likeness (see Gen. 1:26), a material muscle called heart could not give or take away man's life. We also knew that because God is Love (see I John 4:8) He is omnipresent with us and man is safe in that Love. We declared that because God is good, it was impossible for Him to send upon that which He created anything unlike Himself, and Love could not know its opposite called heart failure or death.

In the afternoon of the following day tests showed a normal heart. We were told later by the physician that there was no evidence of there ever having been a heart attack. My husband soon returned to his office and to full-time activity. The physician voluntarily acknowledged the healing power of Christian Science in this case.

Over five years have elapsed since the occurrence mentioned above. My husband is healthy, happy, and productive. Although retired, he is looking joyously to the future. Medical care governed the first heart illness and involved a long period of hospitalization followed by weeks of recuperation attended by deep depression, discouragement, and fear of the future. The following quotation from The People's Idea of God by Mrs. Eddy has been helpful (pp.1-2): "The beatings of our heart can be heard; but the ceaseless throbbings and throes of thought are unheard, as it changes from material to spiritual standpoints. Even the pangs of death disappear, accordingly as the understanding that we are spiritual beings here reappears, and we learn our capabilities for good, which insures man's continuance and is the true glory of immortality."

I was reared in Christian Science from a small child. Physical healings, supply, companionship, place, employment, and home have been worked out through the application of the teachings of this religion. My husband and I are now students together of this wonderful way of life. Living in a home where greater growth Spiritward and a desire to understand God and His Christ constitute the theme for each day is beyond my greatest expectation. I can only say in deep humility, "I thank Thee, Father."

I am deeply grateful for the great love of Christ Jesus, the master Christian, for all mankind, and for the obedience of Mrs. Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, who recognized God's voice to her and obeyed it in writing Science and Health, as she says of herself, "I was a scribe under orders" (Miscellaneous Writings, p.311). It is my prayer to consciously express this gratitude in service as a Christian Scientist to mankind.

(Mrs.) Pearl P. Sheaffer
Naples, Florida

I am glad to verify the testimony of my wife, as the person about whom it is written. The aftereffects of the medical treatment of the first experience were worse than the illness itself. In the second experience, where Christian Science was relied upon solely and no medicine was used, the treatment and the healing progressed as one, leaving no room for aftereffects. Although not a church member, I am grateful for Christian Science, not only for the healing but also for the absence of any fear or expectation of a recurrence.

Albert H. Sheaffer

It is with pleasure and great gratitude that I verify my mother's testimony of my stepfather's healing through sole reliance on Christian Science. I can also testify that a quiet, confident sense of dominion was claimed by my parents as the healing work progressed and the happy results were realized.

I most humbly add my gratitude to God for Christ Jesus and for Mrs. Eddy, and for the healing truth made available to each one of us through the study of Christian Science.

James Lee Phillips
Arlington, Virginia