It is a little over two years since I became interested in Christian Science. I had gone through two operations in three years, and was a nervous wreck, dragging out a miserable existence. Not long after the second operation I was clerking in a store, when one day an elderly lady came in whose very face shone, and she seemed so happy that I envied her. She saw I was anything but a happy woman, so began to talk to me about Christian Science, saying it would help me and make me well and happy. I said some very rude things to her about her religion, but she only smiled. After she had gone I tried to forget all she had said, but could not do so. Several weeks later, while having lunch one day, I saw her again, and apologized for my unkind words. We then spent the entire noon hour talking about Christian Science, as I was starving for spiritual food. The next day I made an engagement with another Christian Scientist, and on Sunday afternoon, when I saw her, I asked many questions, which she answered so satisfactorily that I knew beyond a doubt this was the true bread; I simply devoured every bit of Christian Science literature I could get hold of, for I was starving in a land of plenty.
I soon borrowed a copy of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," but for a time pride kept me from reading it, as Mrs. Eddy's name had always been held up to ridicule and scorn in our family. Finally, however, I began to read it, and as I did so I realized that My house, which I thought was built of the strongest of religious timber, and with the best of foundations, was built on the sand, so that when this flood of truth came, it began to sway, and finally it fell with a mighty crash. I then went through days of darkness, but thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory, I saw this truth clear and plain. Later a testing time came, when one day I fell and fractured a couple of ribs. I decided to use the little of Christian Science I knew; but the pain seemed so real that after a few sleepless nights I called this friend and asked her for treatment, with the result that relief came quickly. That afternoon I began to do the family washing, and it was about completed when my daughter came from school. The ribs were tender to the touch for a few days, but the pain was gone.
I then began to study Christian Science in earnest; but I thought I could live according to its teachings and still be a member of the church with which I had been associated so long. As I advanced I soon saw that this was impossible, for I had simply outgrown the old way of thinking, so I united with the Christian Science Society here. Words fail me when I try to express what this healing truth really means to me. While I came to it for the loaves and fishes, the spiritual food we get from it is so satisfying that I can realize what the Master meant when pressed by his disciples on one occasion to eat after they had prepared a meal. He said, "I have meat to eat that ye know not of."
