Twenty years ago, as a new mother, I was frustrated by many challenges. Doctor’s visits and bills were a large part of our lives. One day I had left my purse at a friend’s house, and when I went to retrieve it, I poured out my problems to her. She was a Christian Scientist and directed me to a Christian Science Reading Room, where I bought the Bible, Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy, and a Christian Science Quarterly. I began visiting a practitioner in a nearby city for prayerful help, and thus began an earnest study of this—to me—new and beautiful religion.
One of the outstanding healings in our family was my husband’s healing of kidney stones. He asked me to pray for him, which I did regularly for over six months. I knew that he was really spiritual, not material. In her answer to the question “What is man?” Mrs. Eddy says (Science and Health, p. 475): “Man is not matter; he is not made up of brain, blood, bones, and other material elements. The Scriptures inform us that man is made in the image and likeness of God.” On page 463 we read, “A spiritual idea has not a single element of error, and this truth removes properly whatever is offensive.” When the healing came, the kidney stones passed relatively painlessly. It was a marvelous instance of God’s healing power.
My husband and I have recently seen the solution of an employment problem. This came after two years, which were usefully spent in advanced graduate studies. Though there were times of resentment and discouragement, this period was one of needed spiritual growth. I made frequent visits to the Reading Room in our town, prayerfully contemplating God’s government of the universe, including our own situation. I knew that everyone is rightfully placed in God’s allness and that the right solution to our problem would become evident. A wonderful teaching position was finally obtained, and a two-year contract was signed. We were indeed blessed, and learned much from this and from every trial our family has had.
If anyone reading this testimony is a new student of Science, or in the midst of a troublesome problem, I would like to tell you to keep persisting! Do not give up and do not feel that someone else in your situation would be doing better than you are. Keep working! Christian Science does heal, and if you keep on doing your best in prayer and study, eventually you will be richly compensated.
Elena Whitehead
Williamsburg, Virginia