I am a carpenter. Thirty-two years ago, at the age of seventeen, a heavy ladder fell on my knee, straining the kneecap. For several weeks I could not walk and had much pain, and finally the kneecap became loose. Then the leg was placed in a plaster cast for six weeks, but without any improvement. Afterwards, for a period of three years, I submitted to massage, also without any good result. In March, 1926, the opinion of another doctor was: "To grow together is not possible at your age. It will rather get worse than better. There is no help for it." In the following months I could not work, or even stand, and suffered much pain.
Then I was healed of all my suffering of thirty years' standing by Christian Science in one night. It happened as follows: I sent my wife to a house where I was expected to do some work, with the message that for me work would henceforth be impossible. She returned with a Christian Science pamphlet, translated into Dutch, and with the words that help would be given me if I desired it. Never before had I heard of Christian Science. When I had read this pamphlet several times, I began to feel a change taking place in me. My life had always been full of sorrow and fear, especially fear of lack, because I had lost much work. But now I saw that there was hope for a better future; that I might be able to walk again. That evening I went to ask for help in Christian Science. Surely the healing had already begun. After two hours' talk with the practitioner, I left her house saying, "I think I can use my leg after a few days." It was ten o'clock in the evening. At eleven o'clock I received absent treatment. That night I slept very well, and all pain left me. In the morning I arose healed. The kneecap was in its right place and had knit together perfectly. Next day I rode my bicycle for three hours, using both legs. In the same year I did heavy work, with much going up and down stairs.
I am not only very grateful for having regained my health, but also because now I have a better concept of God and of prayer. Often I had wished that someone could explain the Bible to me. Through Christian Science I have learned to rely wholly upon God as the only real power. I saw that I can do nothing of myself, and that I shall receive all I need, if I trust God and try to do what is right.
