When I was about twelve years old. my mother was ill in bed for two years. One evening, when it seemed she had only a short time to live, our minister was called, and he and my father discussed Jesus' method of healing. Both came to the conclusion that it was for that period only. As I listened to their explanations and final decision, it sounded very strange to me that something as wonderful as Jesus' healings should be for so short a time. I promised myself then that if ever I became very ill I would search the Bible and see if I could not arrive at a more satisfying answer.
Several years passed. Then a brother became ill with tuberculosis of the lungs and passed on. Later a sister, afflicted with the same disease, was sent south in the hope that the warm climate would benefit her. but she too passed on.
By this time I too was ill mentally and physically from the condition of my lungs. I had married and become the mother of two children, and had it not been for these babies I might have been able to hush the vow taken at the time of my mother's illness. Now, the theological reasoning which in childhood had been rejected, appeared even more unreasonable. So each day for about a week I took my Bible and prayed God to open its meaning to me so that I might understand it as Jesus had understood it.
