Sometime ago I could hardly use my hands at all and only with much agony. They were so swollen and out of shape that I could not write; in fact, my entire body seemed to be out of joint because of arthritis. I had been bothered by this condition for a period of three years. I had help in Christian Science, but the physical evidence pointed to helplessness and invalidism.
One morning as I was pondering my plight, a wonderful thought came to me when my eyes fell upon these words written by our beloved Leader. They are found on page 227 of the Christian Science textbook. "The illusion of material sense, not divine law, has bound you, entangled your free limbs, crippled your capacities, enfeebled your body, and defaced the tablet of your being."
Then on page 495 of the textbook Mrs. Eddy writes: "When the illusion of sickness or sin tempts you, cling steadfastly to God and His idea. Allow nothing but His likeness to abide in your thought." Well, that was it! It was clear that I was to prove this truth. I would have to solve this physical problem completely. It was a struggle—I was slow in giving up, or yielding up, false beliefs. As I continued studying the textbook in connection with the Bible, new treasures opened up before me.
