My healing in Christian Science has always seemed to me to be like that of the lame man who was healed by Peter and john at the gate Beautiful, and it was "without money and without price." I had 'been sick all my life with supposedly inherited and chronic troubles. I had been told since I was a small child that I would never be a strong, well woman; that I was born to suffer and endure, and I must submit because it seemed to be God's will. I had tried everything I could hear of, and in June, 1901, I was induced. to try osteopathy. I took sixteen treatments, and while taking the last I was told I was nothing but a total wreck,—every muscle and organ in the body diseased; that I had come too late for help, and that they would not torture me longer. I was also told that I could not live through an operation.
At that time it seemed to me that the best way to end it all would be to take my own life, and I was so blinded with fear and intense suffering that I started for the river, but some thought of God kept me from going on. I grew worse and worse, and on the 3d day of August I suffered a complete collapse, the attending physician pronouncing the illness a severe nervous condition, and a fever in its worst form. My suffering became so intense that I prayed night and day to God to take me to Him, for I believed that only death could relieve me. In the hour of the very deepest darkness and despair, a wreck physically and mentally, Christian Science found me, and in less than six weeks I was healed of all my diseases. For twelve years I had not been able to take a step without intense pain. Immediately after my restoration to health through Christian Science I took a position that necessitated my being out of doors in all kinds of weather, and walking seven and eight miles a day. I stood straight and strong,—a new creature, and a living testimony of the healing power of Christian Science. I could say in Bible language, "Whereas I was blind, now I see."
I feel that I owe my life, all that I am and all that I hope to be, to Christian Science. Thankful as I am for my physical healing, I am more thankful for the spiritual uplifting and understanding that have come to me since beginning the study of Science and Health. It has indeed been a "Key to the Scriptures" to me, for it has revealed to my understanding the meaning of the Bible, and has given me a God who is always a present help in time of trouble, and who "healeth all thy diseases." I have received much help from all our Christian Science literature and have been able to make many beautiful demonstrations for myself since coming into Christian Science
