Christian Science has given me such a happy, joyous outlook on life that I should like to express my deep gratitude for its teachings. It has given me an understanding of how to turn to God in every difficulty, and has brought the knowledge of His ever protecting care as something I can entirely depend upon.
I heard of Christian Science towards the end of 1908, and gradually became interested in it because it gave me a solid basis for my thinking. I did not come to it for physical healing, as I had good health. I seemed to be very slow in understanding it, and used to say to myself, "If I had any serious physical difficulty could I trust myself to Christian Science?" That was answered by the thought that I did not have to decide that then, and that God would always take care of me.
Not long afterward the test came, and it seemed quite easy to turn to God and to trust Him. I was standing against a railing with short spikes watching a procession. When the procession passed I tried to raise myself to see over the heads of the people in front by stepping on to a spike for a moment with one foot. The blunt end went through my shoe and into my foot. For an instant the pain was dreadful, but I instantly declared that God was my Life, and that there was no sensation in matter. The pain stopped instantly, and I was able to enjoy the procession. That night, after about an hour's sleep, I awakened with terrible pain from the sole of my foot to my hip, and a great wave of fear crept over me. It seemed difficult to think rightly; but after a few minutes the words came, God is Love, and I felt He was close beside me. I just clung to that thought, and it comforted me and calmed my fear. The pain went on for hours, but at last I fell asleep. About eight o'clock I awoke with not a vestige of pain. What a wonderful sense of joy and thankfulness I had! I had proved Christian Science to be true! This experience taught me that although my thought of God had seemed so small and inadequate, I had been able to turn to Him trustingly and the blessing of healing had come. The sole of my foot was slightly tender for a few days, but I had no further trouble.
