The blessings that have been mine since I became a Christian Scientist would fill a book. I did not become interested in Science because I was seeking a healing but because I was deeply impressed by the life of love exemplified by a close relative, a Scientist, and I knew that if I too could express such love and assurance I would be living my life in the way I wished to live it.
Becoming a Christian Scientist was not an easy matter for me. The habit of smoking and the small amount of social drinking which I indulged in were but small obstacles in my climb Spiritward. There were traits of character—strong desires, criticism both of myself and others, self-righteousness, self-justification, resentment, temper, and rebellion—that were deeply ingrained in my thinking and had to be obliterated.
Through Christian Science and the constant support of a practitioner I have been healed of a lump in my throat. Though I couldn't eat or drink very well for a few weeks, the lump dissolved completely through my steadfast acknowledgment of the presence of God only.
When I married my husband, he knew little or nothing of Christian Science, but was lovingly tolerant toward it. He had two children by a former marriage. Within the year, the daughter, then six years old, was taken to the hospital suffering from rheumatic fever. She was there for a month; and when she returned home, one leg was in a cast, and she had to use crutches.
The doctor had stated that she would be in this condition for about a year and that the leg would always be lame. My husband then told me that if I wished, I could have Christian Science help for the child. After four days of treatment by a consecrated practitioner, the girl threw away both crutches and cast and was completely healed.
I am grateful to say that this proof of the efficacy of Christian Science healing was the turning point in my husband's experience, for he became a student of Science and a working member of a branch church.
During this same period, I suffered a nervous breakdown. This experience, a nightmarish one, was made worse due to the fact that I was away from my Christian Science relatives and friends at the time. I had to confide only in the practitioner and conceal the difficulty from those in immediate proximity to me, for I feared there would be insistence on psychiatric help.
The assuring quotation from Isaiah (26:3), "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee," was a source of quieting comfort to me. After two years, I was completely free of this illness, and along with it went fears both known and latent in my consciousness. There have been many other healings in my own experience—those of infected hemorrhoids, a persistent rash, growths, sinus disorders, and bursitis.
I am grateful for the harmony and peace in our home and for the love the members of our family have for each other. These blessings too have been brought about through Christian Science.
Though we have moved from one coast to another for business reasons, we have always found beautiful homes with a minimum of human effort. The right idea of home as a spiritual idea including harmony, love, warmth, welcome, security, and comfort has been strongly maintained in consciousness and thus manifested in our human experience.
I feel deep gratitude for our Wayshower, who said (Matt. 22:14), "Many are called, but few are chosen." And my admiration, respect, and love increase daily for our Leader. I stand in humble awe when I think of the indefatigable labor and love she exerted in bringing Science to mankind. I humbly say that I am unspeakably grateful to God to be one of those "chosen," or ready, for the sacred privilege of being a Christian Scientist.
San Francisco, California
