Many times when I have been tempted to entertain thoughts of weariness or depression I have found surcease and satisfaction through a perusal of the testimonies found in The Christian Science Journal, the Christian Science Sentinel, or in the chapter "Fruitage" in our beloved textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy. It is in the hope that my experiences may be of benefit to those seeking encouragement and help that I am writing this testimony.
My father was an Episcopal minister. At an early age, however, I found myself dissatisfied with the teachings of that denomination and began to question why we were not living and practicing in accord with Jesus' instructions and example. I took my questions to my father and also to a bishop, but received no satisfaction from their replies, so tucked the desire away in my heart, little realizing the joy which lay ahead.
For twenty-two years I had been a sufferer from chronic constipation, said to be inherited, also nervous indigestion, headaches, fevers, and frequent spells of grippe and biliousness. I had a deep aversion toward medicines and often mentally declared I would have no more to do with them, if ever I became independent. However, after marriage and removal into a foreign country I found that I had nothing to take the place of the medicines and suffered agony when I attempted to go without them entirely. Physical culture, diet, electrical treatments, and two operations were resorted to, with no benefit whatever. Then I was attracted by the kindliness, gentleness, and understanding of a neighbor in handling her children, and presently found she credited it all to an understanding gained through the study of Christian Science. She was a comparatively new student, but had seen her children rapidly recover from cases of black smallpox under Christian Science treatment. This made a deep impression on me, and I resolved to learn more about the teachings of Christian Science. This was over thirty years ago, and I could not begin to enumerate the many blessings we have since received.
I do not know when the diseases dropped away, but for many years I have been healthy, strong, and happy, and have not taken a drop of medicine or used any material aids since that time.
Our beloved Leader, Mrs. Eddy, has said (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 127), "When a hungry heart petitions the divine Father-Mother God for bread, it is not given a stone,— but more grace, obedience, and love."
Besides the physical healings experienced and the immeasurable benefits derived in rearing three children, I am most grateful for the understanding and revelation which wiped out a deep sense of loss over the passing on of a loved one, for the overcoming of lack, and for the provision of a happy home and right companionship, through the application of the truths which are revealed to us in Christian Science.
After attending the Annual Meeting of The Mother Church in 1939, we became increasingly grateful for the various activities of The Mother Church, for the unselfed loyalty and service of its Board of Directors, for the benevolent work of our Christian Science Sanatoriums and Pleasant View Home, as well as for the varied activities in our Publishing Society.
I am most grateful for membership and participation in the activities of a branch church, for class instruction, and for the unselfed service of our faithful practitioners. Words fail to express my love for and gratitude to our Father-Mother God for our blessed Way-shower, Christ Jesus, and our beloved Leader, Mrs. Eddy.— Beaumont, Texas.
