Christian Scientists soon learn that their textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, is literally a treasure house of truths, any one of which is capable of healing them of human ills.
One morning during an influenza epidemic I found it extremely difficult to rise and was able to do so only after considerable effort. Realizing the necessity of utilizing Christian Science to counteract the symptoms of influenza, I read the Lesson-Sermon as outlined in the Christian Science Quarterly. This strengthened me, but I knew there was need for specific metaphysical work, and I turned again to the textbook. My eyes fell on the statement (p. 197), "Many of the effeminate constitutions of our time will never grow robust until individual opinions improve and mortal belief loses some portion of its error."
This statement was a challenge. I became more persistent in affirming the truth to meet the difficulty, repeating "the Scientific statement of being" (ibid., p. 468) several times. In a few minutes I felt strong enough to undertake the activities of the day. I was able to fulfill my duties as a schoolteacher and to attend a parent-teachers meeting in the evening. After returning home I read from Science and Health for a long time and finally retired with the conviction that the condition had been met. The next morning I was completely free.
