Six years ago I seemed to be in a hopeless state of physical illness and mental distress. For twelve years I had not been able to do things like other people, as an internal trouble caused great pain after walking, standing, or any exertion. I had two operations, one of which did no good and the other gave me only six months' relief, after which all the old conditions returned. At this point a succession of family troubles came upon me—I was left a widow, and other bereavements came in swift succession. During the years which followed I longed earnestly for death, and looked upon myself as dead to all hope, interest, or activity in this life. My health grew even worse, and I was told that I had colitis. My eyesight gave way altogether, and the oculist said that I would never be able to use my eyes again. Since for years I had used reading as a means to ease the mental distress and physical pain, it can be imagined what it meant to me to sit all day with no employment except thought. Every day seemed to have a hundred hours in it.
Then Christian Science came into my life and changed it completely. I had had for ten years a deep prejudice against what was to prove my salvation. I had warned others against it, read eagerly all books against it, and yet at the first words read to me from Science and Health that prejudice ceased to exist, and I knew that here was the truth. It made me so happy that I did not care whether I was healed or not; but I was healed, though not all at once. The colitis was overcome in a very short time; within a comparatively little while I was eating like other people, and had given up starving on a rigid diet varied by days at a stretch with hot water just tinged with milk. Other things seemed to take longer, and I feel deeply grateful for the patience with which practitioners helped me. For a long time I clung to a material appliance, which I was afraid to give up. Three days after removing it I was completely healed of the old internal trouble. I have also been healed of acute insomnia, headaches that were illnesses, very severe internal chills, nervous debility, resentment, inability to stand exposure to the sun, and the eye trouble which had been pronounced incurable. I am able to lead a very active, busy life. Happiness, friends, everything that I thought lost has come into my life. Through these years of war I have been most wonderfully helped. Even when bereavement came again I was helped instantaneously to realize that life cannot be interrupted, and that in the presence of divine Love there is no separation. I can never express the gratitude that fills my heart.— Southwood, Camberley, England.
