"Attempt nothing without God's help." So counsels our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, on page 197 of "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany." In my own experience I have proved many times the wisdom and efficacy of this admonition. At the time I took up the study of Christian Science I was greatly overweight. This condition had resulted in a feeling of inferiority, self-consciousness, and timidity. I had tried many times to diet but never accomplished the desired results.
It was pointed out to me by a Christian Science practitioner, of whom I requested help, that extremes are not in accord with Christian Science, and she assured me that this problem could be met in Science. I was asked to study all that Mrs. Eddy has to say in her writings about ideal, model, form, outline, beauty, grace, and joy.
A complete study of these references was made, and I determined to lift up the Christ ideal in my thought whenever I was tempted to think of myself as a material, mortal person. There were many false concepts to be uncovered and destroyed, but gradually a sense of dominion, peace, confidence, poise, and true self-consciousness was gained. The material picture also began to change. My clothes became too large for me, and approximately forty pounds of excess weight disappeared. During this time I made no attempt to diet, but false appetite was overcome through knowing and declaring understandingly that the Word of God was my food. I saw too that material food cannot create an effect, since Love is the creator.
