In this time of seeming turmoil and restlessness, of conflicting ideologies and dogmas, I wish to express through this testimony my deep gratitude for Christian Science. Its teachings have proved to be a stronghold of faith, courage, and assurance in my life, and a day never passes in which I do not find myself becoming increasingly grateful for the spiritual love which inspired Mary Baker Eddy to impart to the world the satisfying revelation of the Science of Christ, Truth.
When I was a very small child my dearly beloved mother was taken ill. The fear that was instilled in my heart through the pronouncements of the doctors could not be dispelled by the teachings of the orthodox Sunday school which I was attending. There was no peace for me. At that time, however, coming into our home as a friend of our family was a Christian Science practitioner. She alone could give me any sense of comfort, and her sweet messages of God's presence and His love for His children brought surcease to me. I asked to be taken to the Christian Science Sunday School, and my father complied immediately with my request, as did my mother.
For many years I continued in my attendance at Sunday school, and then I found an opportunity to prove that the child thought may gain freedom, harmony, and well-being through an understanding of God. I was sent home from school one day with a message from the school nurse stating that I had become a victim of the epidemic of scarlet fever which seemed to be sweeping through our school. At that time neither of my parents had taken up the study of Christian Science, although I had had earnest support in my own study of the earlier lessons as taught in the Sunday school. Fear seemed to seize my mother's thought and made her state very firmly that I should have a doctor immediately. In my few years' attendance at Sunday school I had glimpsed the coexistence of God and man and had grasped something of the meaning of Mrs. Eddy's statement on page 410 of Science and Health, "Christian scientific practice begins with Christ's keynote of harmony, 'Be not afraid!'" Relying on that teaching I asked to be left alone with my books, the Bible and Science and Health. Parental love, which so often is impelled by fear for the safety of children, unless strengthened and enlightened by the understanding of God's omnipotence and protection, made my mother say that she would give me until morning to be all right and then she would call a physician. But freedom was mine in the morning. I had had the glorious experience of proving the practicability and ever-availability of God's healing power.
