A few years ago, when I was seventy-two, I slipped while out...

Zoa Keating Avery

A few years ago, when I was seventy-two, I slipped while out having luncheon and broke my hip. My cousin, who is not a Christian Scientist, called a surgeon, who was also dining there. He took me to a nearby hospital. An X-ray showed the break to be very serious, but the surgeon gave his consent for me to retire without a setting, a pin, or a cast. I remained in the hospital because the nearest nursing home for Christian Scientists was several hundred miles away.

A Christian Science practitioner was called to pray for me, and from then on I worked closely with her. No medication was given me, but I was free of pain and ate and slept well. I didn't turn on TV or the radio. Nor did I study anything except the Bible and Mrs. Eddy's writings. I also read hymns from the Christian Science Hymnal and pondered articles in the periodicals. Many statements of truth I had memorized over the years became part of my continuous prayer.

Mrs. Eddy tells us (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 354), "A little more grace, a motive made pure, a few truths tenderly told, a heart softened, a character subdued, a life consecrated, would restore the right action of the mental mechanism, and make manifest the movement of body and soul in accord with God." In the ninety-first Psalm, verse 11, we are assured of God that "he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways." I tried to live the childlike trust in our heavenly Father, as expressed in Hymn No. 291.

On the eighth day I was able to move my foot slightly. As progress continued, I began to use a walker. Then I traveled home by plane on my own.

At home I was able to take care of myself, and six weeks later I was walking freely. My healing was complete, with no trace of a limp.

Over the years I have had other healings. These include shingles and pyorrhea. Several teeth that had deteriorated at the gum line were restored. Organic difficulties were also overcome. Study and prayer for these healings have served to give me a better understanding of our Father's care for all His children, and my gratitude is beyond words.

(Mrs.) Zoa Keating Avery
Evanston, Illinois

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February 19, 1979

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