When my brothers and sister and I were very young, my mother turned to the teachings of Christian Science specifically for better care in raising us after medical care had proved to be unsatisfactory. She had been healed in Christian Science during childhood and had attended a Christian Science Sunday School. But it was not until we children were of Sunday School age that she took up the study and practice of this teaching.

I am so happy to have been brought up as a student of Christian Science. When I was about twelve years old, I went through a period of being afraid to leave home. It seemed that all other surroundings made me feel ill, nervous, and unsure. I missed about two weeks of school. Each time it was the same. Half an hour after being dropped off, I wound up in the nurse's office, calling for a ride home. At one time the prospect of going downtown with a neighborhood friend terrified me. Another instance occurred when my mother took me to a movie. Five minutes after the picture began I knew I couldn't stay; we went home.

There was clearly a need for healing, and my mother called a Christian Science practitioner. (My father agreed to our having prayerful help in Science.) I learned that the source of my real, spiritual being was and is God alone. In Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy we read (p. 519): "Deity was satisfied with His work. How could He be otherwise, since the spiritual creation was the outgrowth, the emanation, of His infinite self-containment and immortal wisdom?"

In retrospect, I learned that true home is spiritual, expressing God's goodness. Therefore, we cannot be separated from it.

One of my favorite passages in the Bible is so comforting (Rom. 8:38, 39): "I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." These verses point to the fact that evil has no hold on man. Fear is not normal and is no part of spiritual existence as God creates it.

This experience prompted more diligent study of the Bible Lesson (found in the Christian Science Quarterly). Every morning my mother and I read aloud from the lesson. A foundation was being poured for further spiritual growth. It was a great time!

Christian Science reveals to us what has always been true of God's spiritual creation. The understanding of this brings the healing. The material picture changes because it has no direction, no power of its own.

Within three weeks there was a complete healing. I later enjoyed years of overnight summer camp with complete freedom. This healing took place thirteen years ago and has proved to be permanent.

Allison H. Demarkles
Wellesley, Massachusetts

It is a great joy for me to verify my daughter's testimony. Indeed, during the time of which Allison speaks, "a foundation was being poured for further spiritual growth" for her. Often she would share with me experiences of how she had turned to God for healing and her prayers had brought forth the harmony she was seeking. Allison relies exclusively on the teachings of Christian Science to meet all her needs.

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth" (III John 1:4).

Alta C. Terry
Dover, Massachusetts