With the Psalmist I sing (Ps. 9:1), "I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart." Although I had been raised in an orthodox church and had attended Sunday School regularly, the Bible remained a mystery to me until I began to study Christian Science and its spiritual truths.
When our two children were old enough to attend Sunday School I enrolled them in the Sunday School of an orthodox church which was within walking distance of our home. But later I withdrew them when they became fearful that God would punish them even for innocent doing. Several years later the older son requested that he be permitted to attend Sunday School. The challenge to find a satisfying religion had to be met. I busied myself for several weeks in the search, but the Father knows what things we have need of, as Jesus told his followers (see Matt. 6:8), and He brought the answer to us in a very beautiful way.
While walking to a market I met a neighbor who had moved away because of her husband's wartime activity. Her face was so radiant and joyous that I welcomed her with the query: "What has happened to you? You look so happy!" She told me that a man working alongside her husband had been healed of cancer and that through this healing she had been led to Christian Science. She invited me to attend church with her, and when I did so I knew that my search was ended. Our boys were enrolled in the Christian Science Sunday School. The light that shone in my neighbor's face led me to the study of the key to the Scriptures, divinely revealed to Mary Baker Eddy and given to us in her book, Science and Health.
At one time I prayed for days to find release from a behavior problem regarding our son. Then I read an article in the Christian Science Sentinel which quoted Jesus' words (John 11:44), "Loose him, and let him go." I saw that the boy was not really a corporeal being for whom I was responsible, but that he was God's spiritual idea, guided and lovingly directed by divine Mind. It was as though a great weight had been lifted. My enlightenment brought the boy his freedom, for he came to me that evening and told me he did not know what had caused him to be so erroneously influenced, but that now he could see the truth clearly and was happy.
Another proof of God's healing power came when I slipped on the back steps of our home and struck my shin against the lower cement step. The pain was intense. I immediately declared the truths I knew about man and his high estate. Our older boy telephoned a practitioner, who lovingly worked for me, while the younger boy read to me from Science and Health. The pain soon subsided. We had planned to drive the following morning with relatives from the East to introduce them to the beauties of Yosemite National Park, and I knew that they would not go if I did not. Though the leg was badly swollen, I insisted that we carry out our plans.
When we were settled in the park, the sightseers left me, and I quietly declared the glory of God. The mountains, always an inspiration to me, took on an even more significant grandeur. I prayed and studied constantly, and after seeing the sights, our guests went merrily on their way. My healing was slow, and when we returned home my sister pointed out the need of diligently protecting thought from error. As I was obedient to this leading, splintered pieces of bone worked their way to the surface, and the healing rapidly followed. In addition, a piece of proud flesh on an upper eyelid, which had sometimes annoyed me while reading, disappeared.
The lessons of meekness, humility, patience, and perseverance, which are helping me to express more Christlike qualities, more love and understanding, are precious milestones on my way to a clearer concept of perfect God and of man, His perfect image. For Mrs. Eddy's consecration and devotion, which enabled her to bring the promised Comforter to us, and for all the activities of our movement, I sing a constant prayer of gratitude.— Los Angeles, California.
