One Monday evening, when in a place where no practitioner nearer than the United States was available, I was suddenly taken with intense pain. My husband tried to help me, but sense-testimony was so insistent that after hours of intense suffering it seemed best to send for the doctor to administer a hypodermic injection, as our Leader says may be done under such circumstances (see Science and Health, p. 464). The doctor diagnosed the case as severe inflammatory rheumatism, and advised my taking some tablets to quiet the pain; but he would not administer the injection, as he did not believe in it and very seldom resorted to it. Knowing that we were Scientists, the doctor asked whether I would take the tablets or stand the pain, and as I refused to take anything, he went away, feeling very sorry for me.
I felt a great relief at not having resorted to any material means after all, and declared the truth vehementally, denying all man-made laws. Soon I was able to lie down, and I slept until five o'clock in the morning —nearly six hours. Both my husband and I were filled with gratitude for this relief. After one more paroxysm of pain, which however did not last long, I gained rapidly. We read almost constantly in Science and Health and the Bible, and gradually but surely drove fear and all the of thoughts that make for discord out of our mental home, so that by Thursday I was up and around.
I am very grateful for this experience, and have come to realize that we must keep all the commandments of God if we would be well and happy. Christian Science came into my life about eight years ago, and we have had many proofs of God's ever-presence. Although I seemed to make very slow progress, still on looking back I find that whenever I clung to the truth steadfastly, I was never without the proof. I have more and more love for Mrs. Eddy, who was patient with all mankind and held steadfastly to God and His idea. Surely the only way to show my gratitude is to follow the Christ-example as much as possible, trying again after each failure, until my footsteps are unfaltering. I thank God for Christian Science.— Santa Barbara, Isle of Pines, West Indies.
