For more than twelve years I taxed the endurance of the various members of my family with my ill health; and finding the severe climate of Montana during the last four years of this time a serious trial, I came to California, hoping the milder climate would prove beneficial. Soon afterward I awakened one morning feeling very ill. I had completely turned from doctors and medicines; yet I had nothing else to take their place, for I knew nothing about Christian Science. I was suffering from tonsillitis, and questioned my obduracy regarding physicians. Feeling the necessity of food, I managed to get to a cafe. In passing I noticed the sign "Christian Science Reading Rooms," and concluded to enter. The librarian was alone, and listened compassionately to me; and through her understanding of the truth I was instantaneously healed, and have never suffered from tonsillitis since. I bought the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy; but mortal argument kept me from reading it, always saying that I could not acquire the faith necessary because my parents were not religious; or again that it was no use trying, because I knew too much about diseases, as my father and my husband were both physicians. As my husband had loved to teach, I had loved to study; hence I had learned much about diseases.
At the end of two years more I found myself with a mere handhold on the lowest rung of the ladder of health. At this time a stranger came into my home and saw my great need. She urged that I call on a Christian Science practitioner that evening. This I did; and I bought another copy of the textbook, for I had sent my first copy miles from me. I then took up the study of Christian Science with a determination that nothing should again come between it and me.
Examining my thought, I found I had always been a leaner on personality, always on some one; but I learned in Science to lean on God, divine Love. I gave up the material pleasures and the friends who were not going my way, and here I learned what it meant to be alone; but I was sustained by what our Leader says on page 266 of Science and Health: "This seeming vacuum is already filled with divine Love." With each material sacrifice that I made, or with each demonstration that Mind governs, I received greater spiritual understanding, resulting in some physical or spiritual blessing. Where resentment and anger had reigned, I began to be governed by Love, wishing most of all to help those against whom I had felt so much resentment.
