My parents became interested in Christian Science when I was nine years old, and I began attending the Christian Science Sunday School. For over forty-nine years I have loved this beautiful religion and have experienced many healings through the application of its teachings. Some of these were instantaneous and brought much joy; but the ones that took time brought spiritual growth and a firmer faith in God"s healing power.
For several years I struggled with a stomach disorder and a skin disease on one foot. Finally, when the stomach pains became almost unbearable, I asked a Christian Science practitioner to help me. When the healing did not come after four weeks, I dismissed the practitioner, feeling I must make a greater effort to do my own work.
One night, about two weeks later, a painful throat condition manifested itself. I recalled that at one time I had been healed in Christian Science of a similar ailment only after a long period of intense suffering. Now my first thought was that I could never endure the suffering again. The suggestion came that I was not going to get my healing in Christian Science this time, but that I was going to die. My immediate answer to the suggestion was this: "Dear Father-Mother God, if, by dying, I could better prove my love and devotion to Thee, then I am ready to die. I am not afraid to die." Soon the corrective thought came clearly to me that I could not really die, for Christ Jesus proved that in God's creation there is no death.
