At a time when I understood little of what Christian Science...

Grietje de Jong-Smits

At a time when I understood little of what Christian Science teaches, I nevertheless experienced a beautiful blessing. We were living on a farm. It was a particularly dry summer; every growing thing yearned for water. Though I put into practice what I had learned, no visible change occurred.

Then I stayed for a few days with relatives in a large city, where I had the opportunity to attend a Sunday service in a Church of Christ, Scientist. As I entered the church my eye caught the following citation, on a wall, from Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy (p. 494): "Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need." And that was just what I needed to understand— divine supply of all our needs, rain included. Being early, I found time to contemplate this, and it became very clear to me as fundamental law. The next day I received a letter from my little daughter stating: "It now is Sunday morning and we expected that we would go out, but heavy rains make it impossible."

Later, when I understood more of Christian Science, I had a very fine healing. For days I had been feeling pain all over my body, but I was able to perform my daily tasks, taking no notice of the pain. At noon one day, when I sat down, the pain became so severe that I found it impossible to remain sitting. Happily, we had a sofa bed, on which I managed to lie down. After some time of immobility the pain lessened somewhat, which enabled me to realize the truth. The following citation from Science and Health came to thought (p. 463): "A spiritual idea has not a single element of error, and this truth removes properly whatever is offensive." I had to realize this and to keep in consciousness that I was a spiritual idea of God.

I knew by heart what Mrs. Eddy writes (ibid., p. 495): "When the illusion of sickness or sin tempts you, cling steadfastly to God and His idea. Allow nothing but His likeness to abide in your thought. Let neither fear nor doubt overshadow your clear sense and calm trust, that the recognition of life harmonious—as Life eternally is—can destroy any painful sense of, or belief in, that which Life is not."

I made every effort to understand this clearly, and after a few hours I fell asleep. Soon I woke up again and pondered various statements from the Bible and Science and Health. With some difficulty I was able to rise the next morning, and I continued to acknowledge the truth of painless, spiritual being and to deny the error of fear and doubt. I received much help through reciting hymns from the Christian Science Hymnal, and my improvement continued. By evening the pain was nearly gone, but then my right hand was so swollen I could not use it. That whole evening I read and pondered Christian Science literature. When I went to bed, I found my hand was perfectly normal again. My heart was overflowing with gratitude.

We can't be grateful enough for all that Mrs. Eddy has given to the world in Science and Health, through which we are better able to understand God and the Bible—especially the life and healing work of Christ Jesus. I am thankful that through Christian Science I have been able to experience these and other blessings in my life.

(Mrs.) Grietje de Jong-Smits
Drachten, Netherlands

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