I would like to express gratitude for the grand healing that took place at the birth of our second child. Because our firstborn had been delivered by Caesarean section, the medical pronouncement was that my wife was not physically able to have another child normally. When we learned of the second pregnancy, my wife was determined to have the child by normal delivery. We were confident that the truths of Christian Science could reverse the medical beliefs concerning childbirth, including the thought, "Once a Caesarean, always a Caesarean." We immediately engaged a Christian Science practitioner to help support us through prayer.

Over the next several months of prayer and study, many things came to light that needed to be dealt with in our lives. We recognized that if we were going to "open the way" for the baby, we needed to open thought to the spiritual nature of man as the idea of God. This included our acknowledgment that because being is spiritual, it is unobstructed by material conditions. This reasoning led to the breaking down of many barriers—barriers in the relationship my wife and I had with each other and with other members of our family. And we developed a willingness to let go of materiality in many ways.

Testimonies of healing in the Christian Science periodicals that told of women who, as a result of prayer, were able to have normal deliveries instead of Caesarean section, encouraged and strengthened us. These accounts firmed our resolve to rely radically on our understanding of divine Truth in our approach to the birth.

When my wife went into labor, the kind physician attending the case and the hospital staff permitted the Christian Science practitioner and me to remain at my wife's side throughout the delivery. When the contractions came, we held to the fact that a spiritual idea is untouched by pain.

After several hours, the physician examined my wife and found that there wasn't much dilation and the baby's head wasn't down far enough. For a fleeting moment, my wife and I felt a touch of despair. We were tempted to believe that this birth was just like the first one, when similar circumstances led to the baby's being taken by Caesarean section. But the practitioner helped us to stand firm in our resolve. Soon the physician consented to let the labor continue for a while longer.

The practitioner and my wife and I redoubled our efforts through prayer. We claimed the validity of each and every spiritual truth that had come to us. And we continued to reach out to our heavenly Father for the manna that would sustain us. We thought of Mrs. Eddy's admonition, "Work—work—work—watch and pray" (Message to The Mother Church for 1900, p. 2).

After a number of hours, there was slight progress in the dilation. But it was solid progress. And for us it was evidence of the Truth being made manifest! We were willing to "let patience have her perfect work" (James 1:4). Then finally the months of preparation, the hours of prayer and effort, were brought to fruition. Our precious baby daughter was born normally, to our tremendous satisfaction. And the first to rejoice and praise God was the physician!

My wife had suffered no harm or ill effects whatsoever, even though this second baby was larger than her first one. At a postnatal examination by a second physician, the doctor asked to see my wife's stitches. He was amazed when she was able to reply that she had none. We subsequently learned that the hospital staff had been poised and waiting to perform the Caesarean section. It caused great wonderment when my wife delivered normally.

This experience has been a spiritual milestone for both of us. Never again will material limitations have the same seeming legitimacy. We have learned also that it's not enough to call a practitioner, go back to sleep, and hope all will be well in the morning. We have to take responsibility for our own demonstrations of healing. We must be willing to stand fast, during all-night vigils if necessary. Only then will we witness the dawn of God's glory vanquishing the gloom of the darkest night!

DAVID M. PETTEYS
Vista, California

I wish to verify the facts in my husband's testimony concerning the birth of our second child. When I found out about the new baby, I wanted to have a normal delivery. There was no doubt in my mind that we could overcome the mortal predictions by knowing that God is truly in control, the only lawgiver governing all. Having both my husband and the Christian Science practitioner with me during the event was a great boost for me. We all prayed.

We are so thankful to have Christian Science as our way of life.

BETTIE HOWE PETTEYS