Last summer I inadvertently stepped into a large nest of yellow jacket bees. Having experienced many healings through prayer, I turned to God. I realized that I had been harboring "stinging" thoughts about a member of my family who had been unkind to me. Praying with the definition of "man" in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy (p. 475), I saw that man includes "all right ideas" and "has not a single quality underived from Deity.” I made a list of erroneous qualities, such as "coldness" and "unkindness" and replaced them with "warmth," "affection," and "thoughtfulness." The list took up several pages. I was clearing my mental table of rancid food and placing back on the table the right ideas that were pure and true. Upon completing the list, I felt as if I had been baptized. The challenges of pain, allergic reaction, and difficulty in breathing were healed the following day.
This healing was transformative. It showed me how important it is to keep my thought aligned with what it says in Genesis 1:26: "And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good." The Christ—the divine influence ever present in human consciousness--is active. The man of God's creating--the only identity of each of us--includes only the loving qualities of divine Love.
Rather than react to how others act, we respond to the gentle, tender revelations of good that the Christ is pouring forth moment by moment.
The relationship between the family member and me has improved and there is a more natural and mutual feeling of love.
L.E., Centre Hall, PA
This past fall, I wrenched my back. Soon every movement was painful. Standing up, sitting down, getting in and out of the car, carrying packages, walking, and going about my regular duties was extremely difficult. I prayed constantly to see through this experience, but had little relief.
One day, during my quiet time, I thought, “I’m like the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz.” When Dorothy met him, he was unable to move. He needed oil to be put into all his joints and then he could move freely. From that time on, in some pictures, you see the Tin Man carrying his oil can.
I looked up oil in a Bible Concordance. In Bible times, oil was used for food, as a cosmetic, as a medicinal, for lighting, and in rituals and offerings. Then I looked up oil in the Glossary of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy. She defines oil on page 592 as, “Consecration; charity; gentleness; prayer; heavenly inspiration.” My dictionary defines these words in part as follows: Consecration is “to devote irrevocably to the worship of God.” Charity is “benevolent goodwill toward or love of humanity.” Gentleness includes the thought of ennobling or soothing. Prayer includes “an earnest request or wish” and heavenly inspiration includes “a divine influence or action.”
Clearly, there was lots to think about. From then on, every time I stood up or sat down or went to bed or did other physical work, I reminded myself that I was filled with consecration, charity, gentleness, prayer and heavenly inspiration. This was my lubrication. This was my oil can, if you will, and I could carry it with me wherever I went. Within a very short time, I was healed. I was completely free to go about my normal duties without any discomfort and the healing has been permanent.
I am so grateful for Christian Science and the practical insight that occurs whenever we truly listen. Thank you.
Celia Nygard