Healed of dog bite
About a year ago, I was standing in a veterinary office waiting to pay a bill. Suddenly, a young dog in the office jumped at me and bit my hand, leaving multiple deep gashes. The young man holding the dog’s leash pulled him back and was very frightened, wanting to make sure I was all right.
Onlookers looked stunned as the office manager quickly took me into the lab, where the staff cleaned and bandaged my wounds. The owners of the veterinary clinic insisted it was important that I go to the hospital to have my hand examined and treated with stitches. They even offered to pay for the resulting bills. I thanked the veterinarians sincerely and assured them that I would be sure the wounds were cared for. Throughout the cleaning, I don’t remember ever feeling pain, and there was no ointment or medical treatment applied to the wound.
At this point I began to pray. I am an animal lover and have bred and showed dogs for years, so I felt strongly that the dog that bit me was not at fault. I very much felt that I needed to express only love for all concerned, including the dog. Harmony, I reasoned, was a divine law that, as explained in Christian Science, was always operating. Attack and suffering could never originate in this law. I thought of God’s love for all His creatures and began to give thanks that their true nature is loving, not aggressive. One thought that occurred to me was this statement in Science and Health: “All of God’s creatures, moving in the harmony of Science, are harmless, useful, indestructible” (Science and Health, p. 514). I love the idea that one spiritual idea in the creation of God, who is Mind, cannot harm another. The dog and I were both creations of God and as such, innocent and protected.
Uplifted by my prayer, I went back out to the office to speak with the young man whose dog had bitten me. We talked for a few minutes, and I assured him that I was not angry about the situation. In fact, I never even mentally accused the young man or his dog. I accepted his offer to pay for any treatment I sought, and also suggested that he might take the dog to a training class. And I recommended a good obedience trainer.
After that, I called a Christian Science practitioner, who agreed to treat me spiritually and support my prayers. I also went to see a Christian Science nurse, who lovingly cleaned and rebandaged my hand. Together we joyfully affirmed my present wholeness as God’s unblemished and complete expression, and I felt no pain. I kept the wounds covered as I continued to stick with my prayers. I was able to continue with all of my activities.
My hand healed within a few days. The young man did pay my very minor bill to the Christian Science nurse, and I later found out that he had in fact enrolled his dog in an obedience class. As I write this, my hand has no scar from this experience, and my lifelong love of dogs continues.
Laurel Smith | Santa Barbara, California, US
This testimony appeared in the Christian Science Sentinel. The statements made in these testimonies with regard to healing have been carefully verified by those who know of the healing or who can vouch for the integrity of the testifier.
Comments:
1. Crystal Says:
Thank you for this testimony about God’s love for animals. I live in a state where hunting and fishing are still the main so-called “sport” and recreation of mankind. Subsequently, I have been subjected to viewing the killing, skinning and butchering of innocent wildlife which sickens me. I would be a vegetarian if I was able to do so. It’s gotten so I can’t even stand the smell of meat anymore, yet something basic within this human body still seems to need to eat meat. I would really like to know if CS has any help in this area of thought.
I love most animals, though I have difficulty loving insects or reptiles. I do try to remove insects or rodents from my home rather than killing them and it always bothers me when it seems necessary to kill them. How does one “love” a crocodile or shark that has attacked a human, or for that matter, animals that attack, kill and eat one another?
It brings me great peace of mind to think that God created all creatures in Love and that in reality there is no need to eat or kill each other. I love the concept presented in the Bible of the Lion and Lamb lying down together in peace, love and harmony, and I prefer to think that there really is a realm where this is possible.
Any comments?
2. Susy Says:
This is a beautiful testimony. I am emailing from Australia Crystal and I know exactly how you feel. Our special animal, the kangaroo, is slaughtered and this is seen as ’sport’ and at present, in NSW, where I live, a political party called, unbelievably, ‘The Shooters Party’ is trying to have a bill passed allowing them to shoot Australian native animals in our national parks - luckily it has been blocked so far.
Crystal I became a vegetarian for the very reasons you feel that need. I did not feel I could belong to the organisations and work for animal welfare as I do and still eat meat although I did not want to press my views on others. I have been a vegetarian for years now and have never felt better. Friends who used to scoff have now been advised by their doctors to think twice about eating meat and have joined me. Believe me, if you research a vegetarian diet and how to access all the necessary vitamins, minerals and so on you can do it. Remember half the world does not even have access to a meat diet and that half tends to have the greater population.
As far as ‘loving’ animals which kill people - sharks are a very big part of the Australian summer and I have often had to come out of the surf in a hurry when the lifesavers or their planes above spot a shark and ring warning bells. The way I see it, a shark is programmed to be a shark just the way we are programmed to be a human. The water is their domain and there is absolutely no malice in any attack they make - they are just eating meat the way humans do. So, no blame - just love.
I also love the Lion and Lamb and believe it is possible.
3. Nicole Says:
Laurel, thanks for the testimony. I think the most notable thing about it is that you did not give in to any impulse to be angry at the dog or the owner, and that you actually went out of your way to assure the owner you weren’t angry with him. I believe anger would definitely have hindered your healing. In Science and Health, Mrs. Eddy tells us that we should always throw our moral weight onto the correct side — onto the side of good — because if we don’t, then what mental quality remains with which to accomplish healing?
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