Testimony of Healing

Learning Disabilities Healed

A few years ago, when my son was in second grade, his teacher told me he needed to be tested for learning disabilities. She suggested he had dyslexia because he reversed more letters than was typical for kids his age, and sometimes he reversed entire words. She also thought that he wasn't as focused as he should be and should be tested for Attention Deficit Disorder. She recommended that we put him in the school's special reading program for kids with learning problems.

I left the meeting distressed. But I also realized that this was an opportunity for me to take a stand for who my son really was — the child of God, as I've learned through my study of Christian Science. I knew I had to see him as complete — not lacking in any ability to express God, who is infinite intelligence. And I realized that I had accepted some common educational beliefs about little boys: that they lack fine motor skills and are less mature and focused than little girls. I needed to see my son as having the same focus and completeness as his sisters.

My husband and I decided to arrange for a reading tutor, but not to enroll our son in the special reading program. I also contacted a Christian Science practitioner, who agreed to pray for him each day. The practitioner recommended that he take some time each day to read from the Bible and from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. In addition, my son and I read and talked about many inspirational hymns.

All the while, I was praying for him, too, endeavoring to see my son as God's child. I knew that what was true for him was true for each of God's children, and I kept this in mind when I volunteered in his classroom each week.

Within a month, my son's reading took off. His handwriting improved a lot, and his word reversals entirely disappeared—as did most of his letter reversals. His tutor called me and said she was absolutely certain there was nothing wrong with my son and that we could end the tutoring. I felt this was evidence of something Mary Baker Eddy said in Science and Health, ". . . the physical senses must give up their false testimony" (p. 192). I was grateful that my son's true, spiritual nature was coming to light.

His teacher, however, only reluctantly acknowledged his improvements, and I realized that I resented her attitude. But I also knew that this was an opportunity to love this teacher, rather than to fear that she could be a negative influence on my child. As I became more certain that God was governing this situation, and that there could be no power opposed to Him, my fear faded, as did my resentment toward the teacher. Soon my son was bringing home perfect scores on his essays. And his teacher became one of his biggest supporters.

The following year, my son's third grade teacher said he was so focused and worked so well with others that he could handle situations that were often difficult for other kids. And in fourth grade, he took a statewide test and scored in the highest level in nearly every subject.

I'm grateful for the many ways Christian Science has helped my family.

Rondi A. Olson
Woodinville, Washington

Reprinted with permission from the Christian Science Journal
Copyright © 2003 The Christian Science Publishing Society
All rights reserved.