Christian Science is the greatest blessing that has come into my life. I have proved it to be truly a "pearl of great price." Five months previous to hearing of Christian Science I had a severe illness, and two physicians said it was impossible for me to live. It had been natural for me as a child to turn to God, and on this occasion I again turned to Him, saying, "Father, let me live, and I will live for Thee." I rallied and got better, the doctors' verdict being that it was a miracle, and that I was in higher hands than theirs.
Although I had this beautiful healing and was very grateful, I found that a change had taken place in my life. I could not read the Bible or say my prayers as I had been wont to do, and became very depressed and low-spirited, crying inwardly because of the promise which I had made to God and was not able to fulfill. At this stage of my life, when I was both a physical and a mental wreck, I was sent away from home to Johannesburg for my health; and it was there that I first heard of Christian Science. A dear relative told me about this wonderful truth. I had been staying with her for a fortnight when I was taken seriously ill and expressed the wish to have help from a Christian Science practitioner. On the way I fainted in the tramcar and had to be taken to the first available house, and on recovering I was immediately taken back home. A medical doctor was sent for, and he said that I was in a very serious condition; that I had rheumatic fever and a goiter, and that this meant an operation which might be fatal. I was disappointed that a doctor had been called in, and had to choose between an operation and Christian Science help. I did not hesitate to choose the latter.
I shall never forget the first visit from the practitioner, for as she entered the room I was filled with a sense of good. Her first words were, "Do you know that God is Love?" I became just as a little child going to be taught all about God. When the practitioner departed, I got up and dressed, and in a few days the fever and homesickness had completely disappeared. At the end of six weeks I returned to my home. When I was bidding the practitioner good-bye she said, "You have found a priceless pearl;" but it was only in the years to come that I realized how priceless Christian Science is. Three days after I reached Cape Town a dear relative passed on, and the shock seemed to affect the goiter. I immediately wired for help from the same practitioner, and in three days awakened in the morning to find that the goiter had completely vanished. That was over twenty years ago. I was very grateful for this beautiful healing; but far more so for the spiritual uplift, and for the peace which passes understanding that I experienced at the time of the loss of a dear one.
