The fact that Christian Science was introduced to my parents...

Jac T Bowen with contributions from Alverna W. Bowen

The fact that Christian Science was introduced to my parents when I was quite young will always be cause for gratitude. Throughout the ensuing years complete reliance on God's healing power has brought many blessings.

One time I fell from a ladder, and my arm appeared to be broken. The pain was so intense that I called a Christian Science practitioner for help. Later I spoke with my Christian Science teacher concerning my decision to depend entirely on God for healing rather than having the arm X-rayed and set in a cast. He commended me on my desire to rely exclusively on God. But when he asked. "Are you happy?" I confess this sounded like a strange question to put to one suffering with pain and fearing the possibility of deformity. However, this question has helped me many times since, for after pondering why he had asked it, I learned that if we are seeing man's true nature as the perfect likeness of God, not subject to accidents or any claim of mortality, then we have no cause to be anything but happy. We understand that all the qualities derived from God are ours to reflect, and certainly this is reason for rejoicing.

As I cherished these truths of spiritual being, the healing was on its way. The pain stopped the first day, and in spite of swelling and an inability to use the arm normally, I was able to enjoy a combination business and pleasure trip to New York City. Upon my return home two weeks later, as proof of my recovery I participated in a ball game, using the healed arm to throw the ball.

Another testing time came when I had a slipped disk, which caused me much discomfort and loss of sleep. There seemed to be no position—sitting, standing, or lying down—that I could endure for long. This situation forced me to guard my every thought from the acceptance of false beliefs. To do this, I utilized the approach our Leader, Mrs. Eddy, gives us in Science and Health (p. 392): "Stand porter at the door of thought. Admitting only such conclusions as you wish realized in bodily results, you will control yourself harmoniously." As I prayed in this way, a harmonious bodily condition soon resulted, and the healing was complete.

On another occasion there was a marvelous demonstration of God's power, evidenced in the healing of blood poisoning and the restoration of flesh that appeared to be gangrenous.

An obstruction caused continual coughing that became quite alarming to those around me. A practitioner helped me realize the perfect, unobstructed nature of God and man in His image. This statement in Science and Health was a great comfort (p. 463): "A spiritual idea has not a single element of error, and this truth removes properly whatever is offensive." The obstruction was eliminated naturally.

My gratitude is heartfelt for Christ Jesus, who showed us the way to recognize and claim our sonship with God, and for Mrs. Eddy, whose receptivity to God's direction enabled her to discover and found Christian Science.

Jac T Bowen
Buena Vista, Colorado

I can verify that all of my husband's healings took place during the years of our marriage just as he has related.

In the case of the blood poisoning, I was shown how to dress the hand that had apparently become gangrenous. This healing was accomplished after several months. The flesh was restored, and my husband has since had the use of that hand.

(Mrs.) Alverna W. Bowen

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