In my early childhood my mother was raised from a life of invalidism, due to an accident, to active usefulness as a practicing Christian Scientist. As a result of the protective influence of Christian Science, I never had a serious illness and escaped almost entirely the various so-called children's diseases. In spite of the fact, however, that I always turned to Christian Science for help in any moral or physical difficulty, I had not made it my own. Eventually I was forced to face the vital question, "In a world whose conditions seem to spell mockery of one's best efforts, with extinction at the end, does a just and intelligent God exist?" If He did not, there was no point in continuing to live. With my whole being I put this question and waited, fully prepared to abide by the answer. I received an unmistakable intimation that such a God did indeed exist, that the ordering of the universe was in His hands, and that my reason for living was to demonstrate this fact.
From the moment of this fundamental spiritual experience, Christian Science began truly to mean the faith by which I tried to live. I received the priceless benefit of class instruction and took a more active part in the work of my branch church. Today Christian Science is the most important fact in my life.
Since this turning point, at times I have been through deep waters; but if ever I was tempted to despair, recollection of the divine message which reached me at a crucial hour renewed my courage. All the blessings I have received, with the help of others or through the application of what I myself understood of Christian Science, would take too long to enumerate. Outstanding, however, are the healings of two functional disorders of many years' duration; also neuritis has been healed. My general health has greatly improved, and my powers of endurance increased. In cases of accident or emergency, Christian Science has been "a very present help in trouble" (Ps. 46:1).
