Healing of Young Child

Our family had an experience recently that taught us more about the power and presence of God. When our son showed symptoms of a stomach virus, we called a practitioner for treatment. She talked with us about recognizing our son’s distinct relationship with God and acknowledging God’s love for him. At times we felt this truth clearly. At other times we felt frustrated and scared. After almost two days of our son not being able to eat or drink without throwing up, we felt we needed to take him to the hospital to be re-hydrated. On the drive to the hospital, my husband and I talked about staying focused on spiritual healing and not becoming persuaded by a matter-based viewpoint. Throughout this time we stayed in close contact with the practitioner, who continued to give support. It was not an easy situation staying in the hospital and we did need to face down doctors’ fears as well as our own but all the while I felt God loving us and protecting our son. After two days in the hospital, we were released to return home. Our son was still not himself, but we were very glad to be going home. Once at home, when our son threw up yet again, I became deeply troubled and discouraged. I remember feeling like I really needed hydration—in the sense that I needed those “floodtides of Love” to pour in! I remember standing on our porch, holding my son and repeating aloud the Scientific Statement of Being again and again and again. I did not want it to be merely words; I wanted it to be a deep, honest, heartfelt prayer. I also remembered many helpful ideas from the practitioner (and from my teacher!) which I soaked up.

I decided to go for a walk carrying my sleeping son. I walked very slowly and I really opened my heart with each step. I wanted to look at everything around me with spiritual eyes. What was God telling me? What was God showing me? These were my questions. I remember one insight in particular... It was an “object lesson.” I saw in a neighbor’s yard that they had turned an old tree stump into a planter and had planted an evergreen tree in there. That evergreen though, was completely brown, dead. It reminded me of the story of putting new wine into old bottles and I thought, “I can’t pack all of these spiritual truths into a material body. That just doesn’t work.” I started to behold my son differently. It was that shift from, “This is a vulnerable mortal who needs to be held just like this (so he doesn’t throw up!) or needs to eat X amount in order to be well, etc...” to, “He is spiritual--and that is that” (as in the SSofB). On my walk home I stopped in the Reading Room to chat with the person working there. She noticed our son wasn’t himself; I explained a bit of what we’d been working through. I really appreciated how unsympathetic she was but very caring at the same time. Her attitude further helped me understand this new way to behold him.

I felt strengthened and aware. That afternoon, our son smiled for the first time in days! Over the next two days, he continued to make progress. And we continued to thank God for proving His care all along the way.