Although my parents were not practicing Christian Scientists when I was growing up, they each had had some Christian Science Sunday School experience as children, so they sent my siblings and me to Sunday School on and off for several years. The Sunday School experience was invaluable to me. 

As I grew into my later teenage years, I thought less and less about Christian Science because I felt it was too demanding. However, by my mid-twenties I was having a very difficult time in my marriage. My husband and I were musicians working together. He had been unfaithful, and I was struggling with a painful physical problem. The doctor who had been treating me over several months finally told me that it was herpes and the only thing he could do for me was to perform surgery to alleviate the pain. He said I would need surgery every few years, and that there was no known cure. It appeared that my husband’s infidelity had brought on this condition that was classified as a venereal disease. I was very distraught.

At that point, I began to think more and more about my Sunday School years, and thought that Christian Science could heal me. I was humbled by the gravity of the situation and was now receptive to learning more deeply about Christian Science. I thought about Mary Baker Eddy’s amazing revelation of the Science of Christ, which explains our true spiritual being, and her book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. My Sunday School teachers had so faithfully emphasized this textbook. 

Instead of going to the hospital for surgery, I called a Christian Science practitioner for healing treatment. She was very loving and confident in the power of God to eradicate the disease. She urged me to thoroughly study the weekly Christian Science Bible Lesson. I hung up the phone, grateful for her encouragement and conviction. After some resistance to reading the Bible Lesson, I mentally rolled up my sleeves and began to study it earnestly and sincerely. I knew that I had to forgive my husband for being unfaithful and the only way I could do this was by really digging into Christian Science. I tried to get a better understanding of the real, spiritual man of God’s creating, instead of the mortal sense of man. I longed to know that in God’s eyes, my husband was entirely good and that in spiritual reality only good is going on or has ever been going on. 

In spite of being challenged by the physical pain, as well as the hurt of my husband’s infidelity, I persisted in holding on to the scientific sense of things, as explained in Science and Health. The pain diminished daily and finally disappeared. I was healed in ten days. That was the end of the problem. The doctor was astonished. I have to say that to me it felt natural. I had been in touch with the practitioner frequently and was very grateful for her steadfast, uplifting support, lovingkindness, cheer, and prayer.

I continued to work on forgiving my husband and firmly holding to God’s idea of him as the perfect child of God always and forever, to know more clearly that, as Paul says in the Bible, “in him [God] we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring” (Acts 17:28). I was so very grateful for the physical healing, and I then knew I had turned a major corner. 

During this time, I was also healed of all desire for cigarettes, alcohol, and marijuana. On page 209 of Science and Health, Mrs. Eddy wrote, “Spiritual sense is a conscious, constant capacity to understand God.” The discipline of studying Christian Science was no longer resisted, but had become a source of gratitude and inspiration. Although the friends I played music with accused me of becoming a “nun” when I no longer joined them in smoking marijuana, I was never tempted to turn back. My husband and I eventually divorced, and now, years later, we’re on amicable terms.

I have consistently and gratefully studied Christian Science for over 30 years now, and experienced many healings (of all kinds—serious physical challenges as well as financial and personal problems, and some of them have been instantaneous). Most of the healings have included prayerful persistence and courage. What I most cherish about Christian Science is the spiritual progress, regeneration, and renewal that always accompany healing. 

I am very grateful and deeply appreciate every aspect of Mary Baker Eddy’s work in illuminating the teachings and marvels of our Master and Savior, Christ Jesus. Also, I’m grateful for the avenues for continued spiritual growth that Mrs. Eddy gave us so that we may follow in the way shown by Jesus. We can daily feel the presence of the Holy Ghost guiding, guarding, and providing for all of our needs and spiritual progress.

Name withheld