My mother became interested in Christian Science when I was about ten years old and enrolled me in a Christian Science Sunday School. From what I learned there and at home I grew up in confident agreement with Mrs. Eddy's statement in Science and Health (p. 177), "The evidence of divine Mind's healing power and absolute control is to me as certain as the evidence of my own existence."
Despite this conviction it was many years after I reached adulthood before I became an earnest student of Christian Science. During this period I used the basic truths I knew every day; but it took severe problems to drive me to serious study. As soon as the healing came, as it invariably did with the help of a practitioner, I would put my books aside until something else presented itself. I was taking this pearl of great price more or less for granted. As I grew older and saw the helplessness—and often hopelessness—with which those around me faced the vicissitudes of life, I began to appreciate what I had. And as my gratitude grew, I was led to apply for class instruction.
The increased understanding gained from this privilege filled me with love and gratitude to God for Christ Jesus, who set an example for us to follow, for our Leader, Mrs. Eddy, and her consecrated effort to give us this final revelation of the healing Truth, and for all the practitioners and others who devote their full time to serving the Cause of Christian Science.
