The testimonies of healing published in our periodicals were such a source of strength to me during a long period of trial, that I love to tell of the wonderful healing and awakening that finally came to me, with the hope that it may assure others who are "lab'ring long and lone" (Poems by Mary Baker Eddy, p. 14).
It was my privilege to attend the Christian Science Sunday School for five years, and soon afterward to have the added blessing of class instruction in Christian Science. This experience met every need and satisfied a longing for spiritual enlightenment.
Suddenly I seemed to undergo a nervous collapse and was left in such mental darkness that it caused me constant fear and incapacitated me in many ways. What grieved me most was that apparently I could get nothing from studying the Scriptures or Mrs. Eddy's writings. I prayed hourly for light. The only comfort I received was from the testimonials. I would search old periodicals as well as new, always hoping to find the experience of someone who had been healed in Christian Science of a condition as serious as mine. But for the staunch support and encouragement of a member of my family and other loving practitioners, the way would have been still harder. I was continually admonished to be grateful, to look for every little blessing and give thanks for it. I could see countless blessings for which to rejoice, but seemed unable to feel the gratitude. I cried out to the living God to awaken this sense within me, well knowing that if I could only feel the joy and gratitude which belonged to me, this dream would end. The healing came gradually. After I had silently and sincerely pledged my life to God's service in any way that He directed, I noticed decided improvement. I realized complete freedom from the condition only after fifteen months of struggle.
