Although my father was a physician of note, I am happy to say that our home was seldom the place for discussing disease. This naturally helped me to turn from contemplating medicine and illness. A few years ago, however, I became ill with blood poisoning and was confined to a bed in a hospital for three months, during which time I had high fever and underwent several surgical operations. All the time I had a clear sense of the fact that should this evil condition be conquered, it would be due solely to the help of God. I had no faith whatever in anything else, and the doctor in charge often exclaimed, "She does not believe what I say!"
Later on, when I met a Christian Scientist and spoke to her of my experience and of having faith in God, she said that I unknowingly was thinking as a Christian Scientist. I had once or twice visited a Christian Science church and had found the contents of the Lesson-Sermons read from the platform clear and natural. I now began to attend the services more regularly, and to read "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy. I became more harmonious, and later on I called on the Scientist who had encouraged me from the beginning. Through this faithful worker I received much help in my effort to walk in the way of Truth, and I also experienced many healings, of which I should like to tell one that to my understanding stands out as most helpful.
One day I found myself seemingly prostrate with influenza accompanied with high fever and terrible pains, night and day. I worked for several days trying to overcome the condition, but seemingly without any result. One evening I turned to my attendant, who was interested in Christian Science, and exclaimed: "I do not understand why I do not get my healing. What can the cause be?" The kind woman answered that she thought perhaps it might be because I still felt displeased with her for something she had neglected to do some time ago—that some resentment towards her might be lurking in my consciousness, preventing harmony from manifesting itself. I thanked her for her remark and bade her good night, and at once began to work on quite another basis. Whereas I formerly had kept the physical healing uppermost in my thought, I now endeavored to see the real selfhood of my attendant as a reflection of God, good, till I knew that all ill feeling was destroyed and perfect harmony established in place thereof. I then put out the light and turned round to go to sleep. As I did so I noticed that the dreadful pain which I had experienced at each effort to move had vanished. To make sure, I turned in my bed again, and with the same result. I sat straight up, and realized with joy and gratitude that all pain, difficulty, and fever had been blown away as it were; it had all vanished. I was so happy and grateful for this proof of the healing power of Truth that all thought of sleep was swept away, and I opened my Science and Health and read far into the night.
