Poison ivy rash healed

Over the years I’ve had many proofs of God’s loving care for me and my family through my understanding of Christian Science. One healing in particular is very precious to me.

I’d been working in my garden pulling weeds, and I apparently had inadvertently pulled up some poison ivy—a few days later the inner part of my arms from my wrists almost to my elbows was covered with blisters and discharges. There was hardly a spot that was not affected and itchy.

I never thought of using any material means for relief because I’d had many healings—from chronic backaches to colds—through spiritual means alone, and I trusted in the healing power of God’s great love for me.

Through my study of Christian Science I knew that God’s creation is very good, as the Bible says in the first chapter of Genesis. God would never create something in opposition to His creation with a harmful purpose. I understood that I was spiritual, created in God’s image and likeness. I’d learned that Spirit is supreme, so in my prayer I denied that matter, the opposite of Spirit, could swell or be inflamed, because it had no ability to act contrary to God’s power and authority.

While my prayers were helpful, my physical discomfort increased, and I felt I needed help to guide my thoughts in a direction that would bring healing. And so after praying for myself for a day or two, I called a friend of mine who is a Christian Science practitioner and asked her for prayerful treatment. She immediately turned my thought to this passage from Science and Health: “The Christlike understanding of scientific being and divine healing includes a perfect Principle and idea,—perfect God and perfect man,—as the basis of thought and demonstration” (Science and Health, p. 259). I felt the love in her words when she said, “perfect God, perfect man.” And it immediately brought a big smile to my face, as I saw clearly that I could be nothing but perfect.

The practitioner also assured me that I could never suffer from doing good. I understood that my activity of bringing order and beauty to my garden was a good activity—and good is the demand of God, which cannot include suffering.

I spoke with my friend for just a few minutes before hanging up the phone. Before I could even walk into the next room, I saw that the skin on my arm was perfect, fresh, and clean. There was no evidence of any rash or itching. I stood in awe of the immediacy of this healing. I called my friend right back to tell her of the healing. We both rejoiced in the proof of God’s healing power.

I continue to be grateful for this healing and the many other times that I’ve seen proofs of God’s tender care for His beloved children. Most important, however, has been the wonderful sense of peace that I have in my life just knowing that truly “all is under the control of the one Mind, even God” (Science and Health, p. 544).

Geraldine Johnson | Tequesta, Florida, US