When Christian Science was first presented to me I was despondent, unhappy, and miserable in mind and body. This unhappy mental condition was expressed in a diseased physique. I was so miserable I wished to die. My healing was very slow, and not permanent, until some of the simple lessons of gratitude were learned. Instead of desiring spiritual understanding, my only thought was to be relieved from pain and to be able to sleep at night. As my thought changed from a self-centered sense, the healing began. My first proof of healing was from nervous disorders and insomnia. Many testing times have come to me since, but when they have been regarded as experiences and stepping-stones to a higher spiritual consciousness, they have proved helpful. A bitter disappointment has been overcome and mastered. This taught me not to lean on any material staff for happiness, supply, or home, but on Truth alone.
It has been my privilege to serve in many ways in Christian Science church work, and this has been the means of great spiritual growth. Some years ago a very alert Scientist noticed an unhappy look on my face. She discerned the trouble, and asked me whether I was happy in my church work. The remark made no impression then, but later the error had to be met and overcome.
Once I fell on slippery ice with the weight of my body on my left arm. It gave me great pain and I had the feeling of a bad dislocation or break. The next day was Christmas. A great sense of fear assailed me lest I should not be able to play the instrument as usual, so I called for help at once from a member of our family and later secured the services of a regular practitioner. I slept very little during the night, but arose as usual with the intent of doing my part in the service. No one in the congregation noticed any struggle.
