Christian Science means a great deal more to me than a satisfactory method of healing. The healing has been proved to me conclusively, both in my own case and in that of loved ones; but the physical benefits, as thorough and beautiful as they have been, are insignificant compared to that peace and happiness which my understanding of the true God has brought me, though the healing brought the greater blessings by proving to me the truth of Christian Science.
Since early childhood I have had bitter experiences, and these trials I had always thought were sent me for some purpose by God. so that my thoughts concerning them and why they came to me had given me a strangely terrible idea of God; but Christian Science has taught me that He sends only good, and that He really and truly is Love. When I came to Christian Science I had reached the limit of physical endurance. I had had months of mental and physical strain, and had passed through a most bitter experience, and my rebellion toward the God I tried to force myself to love seemed irrepressible. I had kept going through human will-power, but I could plainly see that this was failing me. and I feared the nervous breakdown which I had been told so many times was coming.
About this time (July, 1908) I had been annoyed for some time with a tooth, but I did not go to my dentist until the condition had become quite serious. He said that the tooth should be extracted, and this he attempted to do, but he found I could not stand it on account of my extremely nervous condition. It grew worse from day to day, and finally the dentist decided that an operation was necessary. I then knew nothing of Christian Science, and what I had heard said of it had not been in its favor, but divine Love brought one who had an understanding of God, as taught in Christian Science, into close touch with my life. I did not know then that he was a Christian Science practitioner, but his consistent life led me in my extremity to ask him about this teaching, and I can never forget the kindness shown me on that afternoon. I decided to try Christian Science, and in the first treatment the pain which I had been enduring for five weeks left, and by morning the swelling and inflammation were practically gone. I went to my dentist to fill my engagement the next morning, and his expression when he looked at the tooth was truly comical as he said, "That tooth does not have to be pulled; it is all right." It has been so ever since.
