A Christian Science healing
IT was a hot summer afternoon. As I lay in bed I could hear the drone of outboard motors and the shouts of water-skiers. My husband came into the room to see if there was anything he could do for me before he took the children down to go swimming. I assured him that I would be all right. A flurry of last- minute voices -- ``where's my towel?'' -- and a crash of the screen door were followed by quiet. There I lay, propped up by pillows. I had been beset by fever, chills, and nausea. All morning, between naps, I had been studying the Bible and the writings of Mary Baker Eddy,1 and praying, in order to gain a better understanding of man as the Bible tells us God made him -- in His own image and likeness. By now I could clearly see that God, who is our loving Father-Mother, Spirit, could not make man subject to suffering and destruction. Infinite, eternal Spirit is wholly good, and all that it creates must be spiritual, good, and eternal. I was feeling grateful for God's constant presence and healing love, not only for me but for my family and for everyone.
I was beginning to wonder why, with this changed, spiritually elevated outlook, I still felt so ill. I picked up Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mrs. Eddy and just began to read. These are the words that came into view: ``Mortals may seek the understanding of Christian Science, but they will not be able to glean from Christian Science the facts of being without striving for them. This strife consists in the endeavor to forsake error of every kind and to possess no other consciousness but good.''2
Swinging my feet out, I sat up on the edge of the bed. A new and strong idea had flashed into my thinking. I had been seeking all morning for a better understanding of my true being as a child of infinite Love, but had I been striving? What would such strife consist of in this case? Thrilled with this new sense of possibility, I said, ``Father, I want to be obedient to You. What shall I do next?'' Then the thought came to me that I had been learning all morning about my free and vigorous nature as an eternal idea in the Mind which is God, and now it was time to act on it.
The Bible says: ``Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.''3 I asked myself, ``What would I normally be doing at this time?'' The answer: ``I would be down swimming with the family.'' Without a moment's hesitation, I got ready to go swimming, all the time rejoicing that God supports us when we respond to His leading. I went down the stairs, out the screen door, down the path to the rocks and, without stopping, dived into the water. When I emerged I told the family, ``I've just had the most wonderful healing! I know I'm all right.''
And so it proved, After our swim I cooked us all a good dinner and enjoyed it myself. The sickness had completely disappeared.
God is with us all the time. He is continuously maintaining the well-being of His spiritual creation. It's our job to let that reality come to light through our relying wholeheartedly on God for healing, by our realizing in prayer that He is All and totally good and that He has given man dominion. Throughout his healing ministry Christ Jesus unquestionably proved God's supreme goodness and man's true status.
Praying and acting from this spiritual standpoint enable us to prove that we are subject only to God's law of good, that we are not helpless victims of matter. Through the power of the healing Christ this gentle truth comes to us right where we are and meets our immediate needs. Then we can express the unbounded freedom of the children of God.
1The Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science. 2Science and Health, pp. 322-323. 3Proverbs 3:5, 6.
You can find more articles like this one in the Christian Science Sentinel, a weekly magazine. DAILY BIBLE VERSE: Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies. Psalms 103:2-4
