For three years I had been suffering from rheumatism in one arm. Then the other arm became affected so badly that I could hardly raise the hand to my head. At this period I asked for the help of a Christian Science practitioner. Weeks passed without any apparent improvement; in fact, I told the practitioner that the case seemed more troublesome. As I was leaving his home he said, "Well, brother, seek first the kingdom of God." As I walked home those words stayed with me, and I began to analyze my thought to determine wherein I was not obeying this injunction. Among other questions that came to my thought was, Am I doing as much metaphysical reading as I ought? The answer was: No, I am not. When I finish reading the daily papers in the evening I am too sleepy to give proper thought to Christian Science literature. I then said: There, I have it! I am seeking first the daily news and, secondly, the kingdom of God. I resolved to reverse the order and each day always to do my metaphysical reading before perusing the daily papers. In a short time the rheumatism that had manifested itself for three years was completely gone, and not a trace of it has returned during the nine years since that healing. While many people who know nothing of Christian Science have been healed through the loving help of practitioners, this experience taught me that God expects us to use the talents He has given us.
While having help for other problems I was delighted to discover that I could read newspaper print without glasses, which I had not been able to do for fifteen years. Before studying Christian Science I expected to be laid up for some time each winter with grippe and was never disappointed, for that disease attacked me just as regularly as the winters came. Between two winters I gained a limited knowledge of Christian Science, so that when the grippe presented itself I was able to rise above it and return to my work the next day. It attempted to appear for two or three winters but without success, and then ceased. For nine years I have been entirely free from that disease.
For these and many other healings and countless blessings that have come to me and mine through Christian Science, I am profoundly grateful to God and to that fearless, spiritual, self-sacrificing benefactor, Mary Baker Eddy, who has given this demonstrable religion to the world. — Montrose, California.
