Congestion gone, hearing restored

by Valerie Russell, Barrington IL
From the Christian Science Sentinel, February 6,2023

Early in 2021, I became congested and lost my hearing in one ear. I began to pray about this, and had treatment from a Christian Science practitioner, who shared healing truths with me in ways that were clear and vivid.

One helpful analogy she used was that thought filled with false beliefs of sickness and sin is like a glass of muddy water. The way to clean it is to pour in fresh water (pure thoughts from God) until all the debris is forced out, and only clear liquid (healing truth) remains. As Mary Baker Eddy writes in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, “The way to extract error from mortal mind is to pour in truth through flood-tides of Love” (p. 201).

I realized that I needed to clean out fear and other dark or burdensome thoughts by affirming and accepting only the pure goodness of God and His creation. I negated the errors by reading through Science and Health, looking for specific truths that addressed each need until the muddied mental picture began to clear.

A breakthrough came while I was reading the courtroom allegory on pages 430–442 of Science and Health, which presents the trial of a man who is sick as a result of disobeying supposed health laws. This drama makes the point that we cannot be penalized for doing good or for helping others, because God is the only lawgiver, and obedience to His law promotes health, not disease. As I read the allegory, I felt the presence and power of God, divine Love, ever with me and was deeply grateful for previous healings I had experienced in Christian Science.

A second breakthrough came when I realized that it was not my job to defend Christian Science healing to myself or to others, but that instead, the divine and infinite law of Love was actually defending me. Love’s care was naturally providing me with better ideas and improved thinking.

The result of this prayerful work was gratifying. I felt peaceful and expectant of good. The congestion left. Then one morning shortly thereafter, a loud noise woke me up. It was my furnace turning on—something I hadn’t been able to hear for a while. I suddenly realized I was hearing everything plainly—in fact, my hearing is even better than it was before this experience.

I am so grateful for all who share their wonderful healings through the Christian Science magazines, and for the loving practitioners who guide and support our path in healing.