Christian Science was introduced to my mother when I was in my early teens. I had many healings as a result of my mother's prayers and those of Christian Science practitioners at various times.

Later, when I was in my early twenties, I drifted away from Science and took up smoking and occasional social drinking. It wasn't until I met the man who was to become my husband that I seriously returned to the study and practice of Christian Science. He attended a branch church with me, and when he was healed of pneumonia through Christian Science, he became a student of Science. It was at this time that we were both healed of smoking and drinking. During the forty years of our marriage we had many proofs of God's loving care.

A healing for which my husband and I were very grateful occurred while we were on a trip to Arizona to visit friends. I walked too near the edge of a retaining wall and fell two or three feet onto a driveway. My ankle was badly twisted, and a bone in my foot appeared to be out of place. My husband called a practitioner for prayerful support, and immediately the intense pain subsided. That night I had a normal, restful sleep, and the next morning I was able to walk without pain. Soon the swelling left entirely, and I was able to participate in walking tours of parts of the Grand Canyon.

At the time of my husband's passing, it seemed wise for me to move to an apartment. However, it was the opinion of acquaintances that it would be very difficult for me to sell my home for various reasons. Through prayer and my study of Science, I became confident that it was the time to move. Placing my trust in God, I went ahead with the move to an apartment. Within three weeks my property was sold to people who had been looking for what I had to offer in the exact location they required.

More recently, I saw proof of the operation of God's law in the resolution of a complicated legal matter. Prayer regarding this matter was carried on for many months, and the spiritual growth that occurred during that time has been of inestimable value.

The situation involved my inheritance of stock from a relative. It was very evident that this relative had intended for me to inherit the stock. However, the company holding the stock seemed reluctant to comply until several requirements were met, among which was the necessity of my establishing my identity and heirship in the state of Texas—a long and costly procedure. In addition, I was required to find any surviving heirs who might claim a portion of this inheritance.

As each requirement was presented, it was met through prayer and study of the Bible and Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy. Using the Concordances to these books, I thought deeply about what such concepts as justice, heirs, inheritance, order, law, really meant to me as spiritual demands from God. As a result of this work, the holding company advised my attorney that they were reversing their original judgment regarding my case, for they were satisfied that the inheritance was rightly mine. Steps were then taken to transfer the stock to my name.

It has been a privilege and a joy to serve in a branch church, and I am grateful to have been a member of The Mother Church for many years.

Bertha T. Sutton
Red Bluff, California