To tell all that Christian Science has done for me would be almost as large an undertaking as to count the stars. One thing for which I am profoundly grateful is that I found "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, before I was in any way prejudiced against it. I loved its logic at once, and read long and intently, rereading and pondering only the chapter on "Prayer." I felt that at last I had found something that expressed what I had always wanted to know. I shall never forget how it awakened a hope in my heart, —a hope that I could prove it true. After hours of reading I put up my hand to remove my glasses (I had worn them steadily for sixteen years —in fact, from childhood), only to find that I had not had them on at all. That was just five years ago; and I have never needed them since. Not dreaming that the truth I had grasped with open thought had healed me, I simply felt grateful for release from the bother. As I learned more, I fully realized it as the work of God.
For years, almost as long as I had worn the glasses, severe headaches came at irregular intervals, seldom as long as a week apart. At the age of twenty-two my hair was quite gray. Shortly after I realized that it was really God's work that my eyes were healed, my old enemy came with such insistence that I had to leave school. (I was a teacher in the public school for years.) Once before I had been compelled to be out for about six months, and "suffered many things of many physicians," only to gain temporary relief. The violent return brought its quota of fear and hopelessness. After three days of intense suffering I decided to take a firm stand, and to call a Christian Science practitioner. Medicine had been proved helpless before. After a night of agony I called for Science help at seven o'clock in the morning, feeling that I was casting my boat adrift with no oars. The answer to my tearful, hopeless call was, "Call me again at noon." I thought, "Oh! is that all she will do for me?" I lay down, as I had walked nearly all night, and fell quietly asleep. By noon, when I was to call again, the pain was entirely gone. Even though I feared to move my head for days, it never returned. That was four and a half years ago, and I am still free; even the fear of a return is a thing of the past.
This material freedom is a blessing too large for words; but to grasp the wonderful truth that gives the freedom is a taste of heaven. No word can ever express the gratitude I feel for all the channels of love that have helped me. One short statement, above all else, that opened my thought was, "Desire is prayer" (Science and Health, p. 1). It has been the open-sesame to all the good I have learned; for my conscious, earnest desire from childhood has been to reflect love.— Haverford, Pa.
