I Began the study of Christian Science more than thirty years ago, with the hope of overcoming fear which was depriving me of much happiness, and hindering me in the accomplishment of many things. For some time I had been in possession of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy; but, having looked into it, I had come to the conclusion that it was too difficult for me to understand. Nevertheless, that the good seed was sown during that first reading was proved later.
One day when fear more than ever seemed to be depriving me of peace and enjoyment, I remembered the book which I had put away some time before. I took it and read, thinking that it might at least cure nervousness, but I did not believe it could heal functional or organic disease. In a very short time I found myself with a sense of confidence and courage such as I had never before experienced. I continued to study the textbook; and a short time later when I became deaf in one ear, and seemed unable to meet the difficulty through my own understanding of Christian Science, I asked for treatment from a practitioner. She was the only practitioner in the county in which I then lived, and was some distance away, so that I did not meet her until after I had had one treatment; but that one treatment healed me, and I was able gladly to acknowledge the all-power of divine Life, Truth, and Love—God.
Since then there have been trials and troubles to meet and overcome, but Christian Science has never failed me when I have honestly applied it; and I can say today that I am happy, free, well, and filled with the joy of working, and of sharing with others the treasure which has been given to me. I have learned that in the doing of His will no task is irksome or trying. In my family I have seen healings of infantile convulsions, strangulated hernia, pyemia, and appendicitis. The last-mentioned was quickly healed when an operation had been pronounced urgently necessary. I myself have been healed of smallpox, influenza, and the effects of a severe accident. There has been protection in time of seemingly great danger, and comfort in the overcoming of the sense of death and loss, when two loved ones successively passed on under what would humanly be considered grievous and painful circumstances. All this has been accomplished through what our Leader terms "radical reliance on Truth" (Science and Health, p. 167), with the knowledge that God is Life, and that all of His children live eternally and safely through their oneness with Him.
