"Freely ye have received, freely give." I feel that I have not obeyed this command so promptly as I should have done, for my blessings have been many. Christian Science was called to my attention in February, 1906, when I was a physical wreck. At long intervals during the following twenty-three months I attended church services—possibly six times. During this period I experienced various states and stages of extreme exhaustion. What was presumably a case of typhoid fever, which incapacitated me for all duty for five months, brought increased weakness to an already exhausted state due to other troubles of four years' standing; yet I indignantly spurned every intimation that Christian Science might benefit me. Thus New Year's day, 1908, found me facing the realization that the limit of mortal will-power had been reached. Still clinging to the thought that medicine might heal me, it was given another fair test, and at the close of this trial, symptoms indicated an absolute failure to help or to heal. Again, man's extremity proved to be God's opportunity.
Faith in drugs being destroyed, my thought turned to Christian Science; and as pride was humbled, I was willing to set aside former opinions and prejudices and give Christian Science at least a half-way trial. Arriving at this state of consciousness late on Wednesday evening, I immediately arose from my couch (although I had not been able to sit up for an hour during the day), and accompanied by my husband I went to the Christian Science church. My husband proposed having my prescription refilled en route to the church, but I said "No." Unconsciously I took a firm stand in the right direction. Conscience dictated, "The two you cannot mix." I was willing to trust Christian Science for the night.
Naturally, we entered the church in a very receptive state of mind, as our only hope was in help through Christian Science. The testimonies were good, but the one that seemed to awaken me was one in which bookkeeping was used as an illustration. The substance of the illustration was as follows: If a bookkeeper's accounts are out of balance, he finds no fault with the science of bookkeeping, but knows the error is his. Just so with Christian Science, if it does not bring results, we know the fault is not with the Science, but with ourselves. We have not applied the Principle correctly. The logic of this statement appealed to me, arousing my dormant understanding.
