With the desire to encourage anyone who may feel that his understanding of Christian Science is so slight that he cannot put it into practice, I offer the following testimony. Our two-year-old son had been subject to periodic attacks of constipation from birth. These attacks, which occurred about every six weeks, would last for four or five days, and on some occasions were so severe that we would call in a doctor. The doctor diagnosed the condition as chronic, saying it would increase in severity as the child grew older. We were told that when the child reached the age of seven years an operation could be performed which would relieve the condition for a time, but would not heal it, and that he would also need daily to take medicine, the strength of which would have to be increased as time went on.
About this time I visited a relative, and in speaking of my children, I related the above story. Instead of giving me the sympathy I expected, she simply said, "But you do not have to accept that verdict!" Thinking it a ridiculous statement, I asked her to explain. She told me she was a student of Christian Science, and her religion taught that God is a God of love, who does not send sickness to His children. This concept of God's nature was so logical to me, and so contrary to what I had learned in an orthodox church, that I determined to find out more about Christian Science.
A fortnight later I attended a Christian Science lecture which I saw advertised. I did not understand it, but I felt it was nearer the truth than anything I had ever heard. Next day I telephoned my relative, and asked her to take me to her church. We arranged to meet outside the building on the following Wednesday evening, but in some way we missed each other. Feeling extremely disappointed, I turned away to go home. Then the thought came to me to go in alone, and after much hesitation I went inside. The service was puzzling to me, but very beautiful, and I went to the next two Wednesday evening meetings.
