The spring of 1913 found me sick, helpless, not only ready to die but deliberately planning to do so, since life, as I understood it then, had nothing but great suffering, loneliness, and dependence to offer, for years I had not known what it was to be free from pain, and I had come to rely more and more upon remedies that induced a bondage far worse than the disease. At last there came a day when in a strange city I was left alone in the world, suffering bereavement in the passing on of the one I had loved best on earth. The doctors left me without hope as to my own condition, sentencing me not only once but three times to death. Neither mentally nor physically was I able to pursue my profession, and so I was dependent upon others for my support.
It was thus, when stripped of everything material, that one was sent across my path to lead me out of darkness into the light of Truth. I began to study the Christian Science literature and so absorbed was I that I hardly realized when the shackles of disease and enslaving medicines dropped from me and left me a free woman. Wonderful as this release was, it seemed a slight thing compared to the spiritual communion with the One who had given me health and strength, love instead of loneliness and longing, and had sent peace—His peace—to end the years of unavailing struggle.
Instead of taking the life I had not valued, I knew it was not mine to destroy, that somewhere some one had need of what I could give; so I set about finding my right place. The opportunity came like an open door, leading me not only into a field of greater usefulness but into the hearts and ultimately the home of dear old-time friends. The new life has been full of problems, but I no longer attempt to solve them alone, for I know that the government is upon His shoulder. My day's work is long and heavy, but I am able to do it with ease and comfort and great abiding happiness, knowing that God always gives us time enough and strength enough to do His work, which is all the work we have to do. I have not lost a day or an hour on account of illness. I reached this city with less than five dollars in my purse and the first pay day two months away, but I knew the same power that had led me thus far would not fail me, nor did it.
