Christian Science has been the "pearl of great price" for my family ever since we found it at the close of World War I. At that time two of my cousins had returned home from service in the Navy suffering from Spanish influenza. Very soon nearly everyone in my aunt's house, where my family was visiting, had it. My little sister seemed the most desperately ill because she had pneumonia also. Medical treatment was not effective and she was, to all appearances, passing on when the family doctor told my mother there was nothing more to do except pray.
At that critical point, my mother, who knew nothing of Christian Science herself, had a brief telegram sent to a sister who was a Christian Scientist, and who lived thousands of miles away. Within hours my little sister's high temperature dropped to normal and she sat up in bed and asked for food. Then she said she was ready to dress and get up to play. My sister had been healed. That marked the beginning of our Christian Science education. For many happy years after that my sister and I attended a Christian Science Sunday School. During this time, so-called childhood diseases rarely touched us and when they did, we were quickly healed. We enjoyed a healthy, confident, and carefree youth.
While a high school student, I experienced dramatic proof of God's protecting power. One day, as I stepped off the curb at an intersection, a car careened around the corner on two wheels. I went over the front fender, down onto the running board and, finally, was flipped under the car onto the pavement. At that moment, the rear wheel lifted off the ground just enough to pass above my body. Afterward I was able to pick myself up off the street without any assistance. The only injuries I suffered were a bruise and a small cut. But both cleared up quickly. Also, a claim of aftereffects in the form of painful menstrual periods was healed with the help of a Christian Science practitioner. There were no further problems.
