Christian Science changed my life

In 1999, I began to have very bad pains in my hip, and I went to see a specialist. He said I’d need a hip replacement and asked if I’d like to have the operation. I declined, but was advised to return in three months. This was soon after my husband of 60 years had passed on and I’d moved to be near my daughter.

I wasn’t a Christian Scientist at the time, but I’d always loved church and had felt that I was spiritual. Then one of my new neighbors invited me to go with her to a Christian Science church service, followed by a Christmas party. It was very enjoyable, and the people were so friendly. I felt so uplifted I wanted to join that church right away!

Eventually, I became a branch church member, as well as a member of The Mother Church in Boston.

But right then, when my neighbor learned about my hip and the dreadful pain I was having, which at times almost made me fall down, she advised me to ring a Christian Science practitioner. When I did, the practitioner put me completely at ease; she was so calm and loving. She talked about God and His care for me, and agreed to pray. She also gave me some verses from the Bible and passages from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy, to study and to use in my own prayers.

Since the ideas were all so new to me, I needed particular statements to think about. I began with the “Daily Prayer” by Mary Baker Eddy: “‘Thy kingdom come;’ let the reign of divine Truth, Life, and Love be established in me, and rule out of me all sin; and may Thy Word enrich the affections of all mankind, and govern them!” (Mary Baker Eddy, Manual of The Mother Church, p. 41). Then I’d ask God to guide me in all things.

I could see that it was important to understand what it meant to be God’s child, entirely spiritual. I also prayed with these powerful ideas from Science and Health: “Mind [God] is the master of the corporeal senses, and can conquer sickness, sin, and death. Exercise this God-given authority. Take possession of your body, and govern its feeling and action. Rise in the strength of Spirit to resist all that is unlike good. God has made [me] capable of this, and nothing can vitiate the ability and power divinely bestowed on [me]” (Science and Health, p. 393). The “scientific statement of being,” also from Science and Health, promised me that I was not material but spiritual (see Science and Health, p. 468). This statement showed me that it was important to be taking in only good and spiritual ideas, such as joy and love. I needed to “stand porter at the door of thought” (Science and Health, p. 392).

Still, about a week after I first called the practitioner, I felt as if I was getting worse and rang her again. She assured me that I was in God’s care, that she was praying for me, and to keep praying myself. That was a turning point. I found myself agreeing with her and trusting God and our prayers. Gradually, in just a matter of weeks, I felt great and was walking, swimming, and gardening again. I was healed.

This took place several years ago and has been permanent. I still take care of my own garden and have no pain whatsoever.

Then, last year, I prayed for myself when a mole, which had been on my body for about 15 years, started to grow. It was not painful, but I was afraid. I trusted God to help me, however, knowing that I was His perfect, spiritual child; that God’s love is the only power and presence; and that God is All. Within weeks, the mole disappeared completely; I just happened to notice one day that it was gone.

Learning about Christian Science and joining the local Christian Science church have completely changed my life. Doing so made me want to be alive. I’d felt very alone and uninterested in taking part in anything after my husband died, but now this new view I have of myself and of life is really very exciting to me. Just recently I took a trip to Spain. My children were happy to see the change, and one daughter said, “Mom, it’s because you think right, and I know it’s your new religion.”

I am so very grateful to Mary Baker Eddy for giving us Science and Health and her other writings.

Joyce Simmonds | Ashford Common, Middlesex, England