My dear mother spent her lifetime preparing for the proverbial rainy day, which never came to her. Later, however, plenty of them came to me, and I found her lifetime preparation inadequate for my need. Thus I was unexpectedly forced to make a living for myself and fatherless babe. Several ways seemed to open to me. Just previous to this time, however, I had found the pearl of great price, —Christian Science. In studying its text-book I found this passage, "To pursue other vocations, and advance rapidly in the demonstration of this Science, is not possible" (Science and Health, p. 457). I had a great desire for rapid progress, and at this point circumstances forced me to make my first demonstration for one out of my own family. This brought me the sweetest joy I had ever known. How I wished it were possible for me to devote myself wholly to the gaining of more understanding, and I saw that I could not gain more without using what I had.
Before long I saw that this was possible if I would trust God to care for me and mine, both in the present and the future. My faithful teacher helped me in this; also in meeting the argument that I was altogether too young in Science to attempt to practise it. Thus I began the practice of Christian Science five years ago, and during those years there has never been an actual need that divine Love has not supplied, though many times the supply did not anticipate the need. As of old, the manna for each day fell nor could I anticipate the need of to-morrow. This taught me, as nothing else ever could, an entire dependence on God for my supply, a willingness to trust the future as well as the present to His loving care.
During the last year there came to me a confirmation of this confidence, which proved to me how much safer it is to trust one's future to God than to attempt to care for it oneself by laying up much treasure. At the dawn of Decoration Day I was awakened by a strange, roaring noise. On going to the porch I heard a horseman shouting that the river, which had been very high for days, had cut a new channel to reach its outlet. In a few minutes the angry, hissing torrent of water was upon us. This was the beginning of the flood that submerged for days a large portion of Kansas City. Within an hour we had left behind us, home, all earthly possessions, not even being fully clothed. Some of the Christian Scientists were taken out of upper-story windows in boats, when the water was a whirling mass of houses, debris, and stock, so much so that all but one of the many bridges were battered down. There was not, however, a single accident to any one of us. From a human standpoint I had a right to expect assistance from either of two sources, but I failed to receive it. I then learned that "Soul hath infinite resources wherewith to bless mankind" (Science and Health, p. 60).
