Day 313: Working on Gratitude Today

630:28-633:15

For all this I am endeavoring to be thankful to God and to our faithful Leader, Mrs. Eddy, whose pure and undefiled life enabled her to discover this precious truth for the benefit of all mankind.

2010

Day 186: Christian Science, aflame with divine Love

366:30-369:4

This is what is meant by seeking Truth, Christ, not "for the loaves and fishes," nor, like the Pharisee, with the arrogance of rank and display of scholarship, but like Mary Magdalene, from the summit of devout consecration, with the oil of gladness and the perfume of gratitude, with tears of repentance and with those hairs all numbered by the Father.

Because Truth is infinite, error should be known as nothing. Because Truth is omnipotent in goodness, error, Truth's opposite, has no might. Evil is but the counterpoise of nothingness. The greatest wrong is but a supposititious opposite of the highest right. The confidence inspired by Science lies in the fact that Truth is real and error is unreal.

 

2010

Day 323: Gratitude

652:24-655:26

I’m so very grateful that Mrs. Eddy put this book out for everyone.

Day 322: Telling a Story

650:28-652:23

The testimony today is a story about someone suffering, finding the book, then being healed. Whenever I give a testimony, you can be sure it isn’t as eloquent or well-crafted. Standing up at church, everyone turning to look while I speak, is scary. These testimonies are amazing for the literary quality as well as the detail, spiritual resolution, and healing. Without the craft of the story, the importance of it would diminish. I wonder if people were just better storytellers back then. Anyway, I’ve very grateful for the quality and the meaning of the testimonies.

Day 321: Sending for the Book

648:13-650:27

After reading so many testimonies, probably written in the last 1800s or early 1900s, I’m taken with how difficult it was to obtain this book to read. Most people had to send away for it or borrow it from someone with the strict rule that it be returned when done. This must have made Christian Science appear mysterious.

Now days, you can find out information on just about anything and source material is right there along with third party objective information and opinion pieces.

I’ve updated the About page to contain good links to the book in several places and formats. Some are free.  I’m grateful to Mrs. Eddy for writing the book and The Mother Church for making sure it is widely available to all.

Day 317: Action, not reaction

639:18-641:14

My life seems to be, at any moment, about to change drastically. I’m on the edge of it and the not-knowing what will happen is griping me. I recognize it as fear and I’m angry with myself for being afraid. I’ve been praying about it because it’s a silly thing to be afraid of change. I know God is taking care of me and my family regardless of what change comes. I’m grateful for one of the testimonies pointing out the action to take and not the reaction to plan for:

We are humbly trying to live the lives that will prove our gratitude to God, and our beloved Leader, Mrs. Eddy.

Day 314: Universal Testimonies

633:16-635:17

What I love about these testimonies, apart from the historical details, is the degree of difficulty and the swing toward healing are the same then as they are now. The negative attitudes are even the same:

As the son of a physician, a graduate in pharmacy, and an ex-druggist, I had a perfect contempt for what I thought Christian Science to be.

Of course, once the person is healed, the attitude changes:

It was then I realized that “man’s extremity is God’s opportunity.” The “little book” was handed me at this hour of great need. I read it, not thinking it would heal me, but, like a drowning man, I grasped at it. I read it, read it again, and soon found myself growing stronger; then I kept on reading and was perfectly healed of all the supposedly incurable diseases.

Or this one:

I was completely healed, and regained health, strength, and flesh through the spiritual understanding of Christian Science, the result of about six weeks’ study.

Then, added:

While most grateful for the physical healing, my gratitude for the mental and spiritual regeneration is beyond expression.

Day 309: Gratitude

622:20-624:16

The first testimony mentions how, after being healed in Christian Science, a relative expressed loving gratitude reflected in every word and deed. That was in my thought as I read the second testimony from a husband of the afflicted woman. The gratitude expresses in these testimonies is sincere and comes through easily. I want to make sure I express gratitude for what I have received.

Day 300: Old & New

603:20-605:24

The first testimony reminded me that first my mental understanding must change, then, and only then will the physical picture change:

This awakened sense never left me, and one day when walking alone it came to me very suddenly that I was healed, and I walked the faster declaring every step that I was healed.

The tumor began to disappear at once

The second testimony was worded in such a way that I found a new thought, and I am going to put it to use immediately because I have been dealing with this challenge:

As time went on I learned the nothingness of discouragement, and understood in a measure that God is my Life and that all action is in divine Mind.

Discouragement is so sneaky that it’s hard to remember, when I’m in the thick of it, that it isn’t real. I grateful the testimony mentioned this point specifically.

Day 299: Restored

601:24-603:19

Both testimonies in this section are wonderful.

The first asks:

Am I truly thankful for all the good that has come to me and mine? I try to let my works testify of that;

The second writer gives us a first-hand account of the problem then the healing:

it went entirely out of my thought, for I had a glimpse of all God’s creation as spiritual, and for the time being lost sight of my material selfhood.

It was healed while I was “absent from the body” and “present with the Lord.” This experience was worth a great deal to me, for it showed me how the healing is done.

Day 188: Benefits Received

371:5-372:32

Yesterday was a really good day. I didn’t have a journal entry here but I did have a household where children behaved, parents didn’t fight. Usually on our busiest days, I’ve a short temper and rush. Yesterday was so full, even my husband lost track but we all got along and everything got done and we had fun. Yeah!

I’ve been thinking lately about the matter illusion. I can’t get around matter, regardless so today’s reading helped:

Matter is not self-sustaining. Its false supports fail one after another. Matter succeeds for a period only by falsely parading in the vestments of law.

The idea of law having a hold on me in right on. So I’m going to work on that idea of the falsity of material law. Or something along those lines.

And:

If pride, superstition, or any error prevents the honest recognition of benefits received, this will be a hindrance to the recovery of the sick and the success of the student.

I try to be grateful for each small (and big) thing (and non-thing) in my life. But I probably don’t see everything I should be grateful for so I’ll redouble my efforts on that.