The benefits I have received through the study of Chiristian Science are greater than I can express in words. From my birth I was considered frail and delicate; and up to the age of seven I spent most of the winters in bed. Physicians said I was tubercular, and would not survive childhood. When I reached the age of fifteen years the condition became acute, and the family physician said I could not reach womanhood. But in my childhood I had read in the Bible that God is Love; and I had implicit faith in that Love and that I should not die; and I grew to womanhood always seeking the God of love. I failed to find in the churches what I sought; and so drew away from them, but still kept up my quest, never doubting that I should find the God I longed for.
In early childhood, through a fall, I had broken three vertebrae in my spine, which after a long illness seemingly healed, but from which I continually suffered. In early woman-hood serious spinal trouble asserted itself, and I was condemned by specialists to spend my life in a wheel chair, wearing a steel jacket. Blood-less surgery was used; and again I was able to be on my feet, but suffered continually. Finally, a severe nervous breakdown, accompanied by brain fever, left me without hope of recovery. I had been in bed two months with two physicians attending me, but both failing to help me, when Christian Science brought the light of Truth and revealed to me the God of love I had been seeking. For four days I struggled to hold on to my medical beliefs and drugs; then with a heartfelt cry to our Father-Mother God, who is Love, I gave them up, and was greatly benefited. In five days from the time Christian Science came to me I was out walking on the street. But I was not faithful then; and for a time returned to my false gods, and suffered much before I realized where I stood. In the years that followed, when I again turned to Christian Science, I was healed of the spinal trouble, the fear of tuberculosis, stomach trouble, appendicitis, paralysis, and many other ills. For fifteen years I had worn glasses. The eye trouble also was overcome, and the glasses were discarded. The physical healings were wonderful; but what can I say of the blessed healing of false beliefs about God and man, and the joy of learning of an ever present God, who is Love!
One healing has been that of fear of people. Seeing my brother-man as the image and likeness of God and being grateful for the privilege of serving have brought this healing. The spiritual awakening continues daily as I try to live the Christ, Truth. Right thinking brings a greater realization of true liberty and the joy of working for others.
