During seven years of illness, everything material methods could offer was tried, including change of climate and an ocean trip, but like the woman spoken of in the Bible I "was nothing bettered." Finally I became morbid, a burden to myself and my family. Our finances were exhausted. Then a dear friend of my mother asked me to see a Christian Science practitioner. I did so, and to my great surprise I was instantaneously healed of a stubborn case of constipation and of an aggravated case of gastritis. However the so-called incurable disease which I dreaded most did not yield. For about three years I studied diligently every available moment, attended every lecture I possibly could, never missed church services, and visited practitioners. All this was done to receive freedom from physical suffering, never with a desire to know more about God. One Wednesday night at church, while listening to testimonies, I found myself with tears streaming down my cheeks, thinking, "Dear Father, even if I never get my healing I thank Thee that all these people were healed." This was the first time I really forgot self and expressed gratitude for the blessings others had received. Soon after, I noticed that all symptoms of the disease had disappeared.
I often wondered how this healing had come about; finally it was shown to me in a simple manner. We moved to the suburbs and, as I had always lived in cities, I was elated at the prospect of having a garden, but I found to my dismay that the yard was full of weeds. I seized one of the largest and, though I pulled and tugged with all my strength, I could not even loosen it. I was about to give up when my daughter, who was helping me, said: "Mother, why don't you do as I do? I pull out the little ones around the big weeds first and then the big ones come out almost by themselves." I realized that this was how my healing had come about. In a measure I had pulled out from my thinking the little weeds of selfishness, self-pity, resentment, fear, and discouragement, and lo, the thing that had seemed so stubborn and firmly rooted disappeared.
For over twenty years Christian Science has met all our needs. Our three children have had no medication since this Science came to bless our home. In the words of the prophet Isaiah, Christian Science has given me "beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness." I am deeply grateful to our beloved Leader for the true concept of God and the Christ which has helped me to understand the mission of our Master, Christ Jesus. I thank God for Christian Science.— New York, New York.
