Truly, Christian Science is the golden thread running through my life. I was blessed by having a mother, a very sincere Christian Scientist, who saw that we attended a Christian Science Sunday School and that we practiced Science in our home and daily life.

When I was drafted for World War II, I was placed in a limited service category because of the results of a required physical examination. Later I volunteered for the Air Force and flying duty, but I was told that my medical record prohibited me from such activity. I called a Christian Science practitioner for help in praying about the situation. The condition was soon healed, and I passed all the Air Force tests and training classes and was certified as a navigator. I am so grateful for the protection that I experienced during combat service, along with the members of my crew, as I related in a Sentinel testimony published in 1944.

My wife and I were blessed with four fine sons. Christian Science was also their shield and protection—from every childhood ill. If one of the children did become ill, Christian Science quickly healed him, either through our prayerful work alone or with the help in prayer of a practitioner.

One child fell through a stair railing to the first floor, landing on his chin, which caused his jaw to move out of place. My wife and I felt we needed help in praying about this, so we took our son to a Christian Science practitioner. The practitioner quickly quieted our fears and absolutely and firmly acknowledged our son's perfection based on the boy's true nature as the spiritual child of God. By the next day our son's jaw had assumed its proper place and no vestige of the injury remained.

At one time the place where I had been working shut down. I had no work, and my wife was pregnant. In the past my wife and I had talked about starting my own business, but lack of capital held me back. After I lost my job my wife said, "Why not go into business for yourself now?" We knew that nothing could impede a correct endeavor and that right ideas are always successful, so I "took the plunge."

At first a large account I had been promised didn't work out, but by our knowing who my real employer was, by trusting God, and by doing all for the glory of God, the business prospered and our income was adequate for our needs. We read in Psalms (37:25): "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread."

When we learned that one son had been killed in Vietnam, Christian Science was our strong support. We were comforted by Christ Jesus' words "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). We held to the truth that the real man is immortal, as Christ Jesus proved. We asked for prayerful help from a practitioner in order to meet our duties as Readers in our branch church that Sunday and to handle the sympathy of others, which can sometimes be a heavy burden, even though it is meant to be a help. We continued in our prayers. This positive course of action—forgetting self—broke the feeling of loss; and we were healed of grief.

Later, when my wife passed on after so many years of happy marriage, this experience made the grief much easier to overcome. I have so much to be grateful for from my study and use of Christian Science.

John W. Roehmer
Kingsville, Maryland

This statement is written in support of the testimony by John W. Roehmer, my father. The accident to my jaw occurred when I was quite young, but I can heartily attest that the healing is quite complete, as I have had no difficulties or ill effects from the accident.

George Michael Roehmer