When Christian Science was first presented to me about fifteen years ago, I was in excellent health, and therefore began to study it merely to understand its spiritual teachings; but it was only after faithfully continuing to do so for over two years that I began to grasp them. The light came all at once. While reading Science and Health one afternoon, suddenly it came as though a veil had been lifted from my eyes. Every page I turned to was full of meaning, whereas the same words had formerly been meaningless to me. At that hour the basic teachings of Christian Science were made entirely clear to me. I would say to those discouraged because of lack of comprehension, Do not be intense in thought and yearning, for it takes time to understand the fundamentals of mathematics, and generally takes time for one to comprehend the Science of Mind.
When the Principle of Christian Science was revealed to me I was teaching school, and began at once to put my understanding into practice. I was called upon by the head master to take charge of the music, play the piano, and so on. Several years before this I had gained some knowledge of music, but at this time both fingers and knowledge were inactive from disuse; however, I was told that unless the music was undertaken I could not retain my position. After an earnest study of passages in the Bible and Science and Health, I felt that I could do what my duty required of me. It was therefore with the utmost confidence in God that I seated myself at the piano in the assembly hall in the school. With no nervousness, no fear, I placed a march before me, and although my fingers touched the keys, it was as though some one else played; something within me compelled the music to flow regularly and correctly from my fingers, though humanly speaking I had not the musical education to enable me to read the sheet of music before me. Jesus had knowledge without need of books or study, so all knowledge is within man as God's idea, and we are sure to find it when in critical moments, like mine, we are compelled to depend entirely upon the divine resources, look only to Truth for help.
Later, I gave up my work and was married, and when our babies were born I depended upon Christian Science treatment for strength and courage to face the ordeal. I was up doing light work about the house the morning following the birth of one baby, and the second morning after the birth of the other. In both cases I was strong and in a normal condition. During the past year I have realized more than ever the sin of criticism,—that one cannot be lovable or loving while speaking words of condemnation or unkindness against another. The less one judges or criticizes others the healthier and happier he becomes, and one learns through Christian Science how to overcome sin and wrong thinking.
