Christian Science has been a part of my life since early childhood. I was fortunate to start Sunday School when I was very young and continue attending until I was grown. During this time there were many healings—some through my own prayers, using the spiritual truths learned in Sunday School. For a few years the temptation of a materialistic way of life looked very inviting, and I wandered for a bit; but I never entirely left Science. My mother constantly gave me support in her letters with words of truth. Later, when I was firmly grounded in Science, I took class instruction, and my own three children were given the opportunity of attending Sunday School even though my husband is not a Scientist. For these things I am very grateful.

There were many healings of the children—one was instantaneous. When our son was about eight years old, he had a very sore throat. He was unable to eat or talk, and had a fever. The Christian Science practitioner that I called came to the house to talk to him. She sat beside him on his bed and asked him to repeat aloud with her that he was a spiritual idea of God. With tears running down his cheeks he shook his head, indicating that he couldn't talk. She continued to repeat the statement, and within five minutes the boy was shouting the words, jumping up and down on his bed for joy, and asking for something to eat—he was hungry!

Another time, this same child had a broken arm that was set and healed beautifully through prayer—using spiritual truths that declare the perfection of God's child. This was to the amazement of the bone specialist that my husband had insisted the child be taken to. I am very grateful for these healings and for all the healings I have received, which include those of a broken toe and a severe problem with my legs that prevented me from walking for a time.

Recently I had proof of how God cares for His ideas and how divine Love heals. One afternoon three of our dogs were loose in the yard. I heard them barking, so I went to the door to let them in. Then I saw they were barking at a car that had stopped. Ten minutes later one of the dogs was having severe convulsions. I put the dog in our car and drove eight miles to a veterinarian. En route, I literally shouted spiritual truths, declaring that an idea of God is always surrounded with divine Love.

The veterinarian told me the dog had been given strychnine and that I should return home and check the other dogs. When I did, I found a second dog had the same symptoms. The veterinarian then said he would take both dogs home with him and sedate them (to quiet them), as there was nothing more he could do.

When I got home, I called a Christian Science practitioner for the help I felt I needed. The first thing I was told was that I had to love the person in the car who was apparently responsible. I felt this was just about impossible to do, for I wanted to find this person and hurt him back. But I sat down with the Bible and the writings of Mrs. Eddy and worked as I had been taught during class instruction. My husband, who had been going to church with me for about two years, also prayed. I continued until sometime after midnight. Still, I was unable to fully love the individual or find complete peace. But I felt I had done all I could, so I went to bed. The false picture of a person throwing poisoned food kept trying to appear to me. Each time it did, I stood firm and reversed this thought, knowing that in reality it had never happened to God's perfect creation. (I knew that we cannot rehearse error, for this would make a reality of it.) Before long I felt an overwhelming desire to embrace the person in my arms and assure him that he was loved by God. I fell asleep feeling surrounded with love and peace.

The next morning I called the veterinarian, and to my joy, he said with surprise and happiness in his voice, "The dogs are fine." He told me that he could not believe his eyes and did not understand what had brought about the change, since he hadn't expected them to live through the night. I told him it was God that had brought about the change. He said that it had to be something, for he had never seen anything like the dogs' recovery. How grateful I was!

Some days later we found evidence in our home of a break-in attempt, which the dogs had apparently prevented. We felt the poisoning had been done in retaliation.

How grateful I am for the healings all in my family have received! I am also grateful for the spiritual growth I have gained through the study of Christian Science.

RETA GUYAUX
Otto, North Carolina