Several years ago a cousin told me something of Christian Science. Although no impression was apparently made on me at the time, the seed was sown.
Several months later I became crippled with arthritis. I had to leave my work and was confined to my bed for several weeks, being unable to walk farther than across the room. During this time I was taken to a doctor twice a week for heat treatments. After having several of them I began to feel vaguely the futility of such a procedure and became very much discouraged. The night came when I was desperate. What should I do if I could not work? Why did I have to be crippled? But "man's extremity is God's opportunity" and the "still small voice" came with the message that Christian Science would heal me. With that thought I slept soundly for the first time in many weeks. In three days I was back at work. I did not get around very well, however, and a few days after going back to work I got in touch with my cousin and asked to be taken to a Christian Science practitioner. That morning I was not able to walk one block, but that night I walked ten blocks with no difficulty whatever. Thus the words of our dear Leader, Mrs. Eddy, were proved to me (Science and Health, p. 412): "The power of Christian Science and divine Love is omnipotent. It is indeed adequate to unclasp the hold and to destroy disease, sin, and death."
My complete healing took about five months. During this time I made frequent visits to the practitioner, where I received invaluable help. It gave me a strong foundation for further study in Christian Science. During those early days in Science I did not realize how valuable was the help that I was receiving, but since then I have realized it more fully. Living with non-Scientists, there have been times when I might have wavered in my faith had I not remembered some healing thought given me by the practitioner during those early days.
