Question 2: Share a testimony other than physical healing in which reading one or more of Skip’s articles had played an important part in your own spiritual study and prayer and final demonstration.

When my husband passed on, I immediately felt sadness and a sense of loss. The idea of continuing the rest of my life without him by my side was overwhelmingly incomprehensible. But as I have done in every difficult situation in my life, I turned to God for comfort and peace.

When I read Skip’s article “‘Drear subtlety’ or double portion?” (Sentinel, June 25, 1984), I knew he had written it from a place of personal demonstration. So much of the article resonated with me in terms of the array of emotions I was feeling. It also helped me uncover the lie in  questions such as If my husband failed to be healed through prayer, how can Christian Science really be effective? I kept pondering Skip’s statement: “it is the nature of God’s all-inclusive spiritual reality dawning on thought that brings us healing and assurance.” 

Skip’s article quotes Mrs. Eddy: “The relinquishment of all faith in death and also of the fear of its sting would raise the standard of health and morals far beyond its present elevation, and would enable us to hold the banner of Christianity aloft with unflinching faith in God, in Life eternal” (Science and Heath, 426:23–28). As I worked through this, I found that I was comforting family and friends when I made phone calls informing them of my husband’s passing. And as the days passed, I was having a clearer sense that God was going to use me to bless others as a result of overcoming this great sense of loss. 

Every day since my husband’s passing, I am reminded of the fact that his life continues on and that he is experiencing far more good, health, joy, and happiness than he did here. I know that he would not want me to stay in a constant state of sadness, fear, loneliness, or loss, but would want me to learn and grow spiritually from this experience. 

As I write this, it has been several weeks since my husband’s passing, and I can honestly say that I am demonstrating a healing of grief. The strong sense of sadness did not last past two days. While I have moments of missing him greatly that bring tears, I am able to move out of those moments quickly and remember the good that is going on for him and for me, and remember that I will see him again.