This testimony is my sincere expression of gratitude for having become a student of Christian Science many years ago. When I was first married, an unused copy of Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy came to my attention while I was at my mother-in-law's home. I borrowed the book and read it periodically. But I never got past the wonderful chapter titled "Prayer." The opening statement in that chapter is (p. 1): "The prayer that reforms the sinner and heals the sick is an absolute faith that all things are possible to God,—a spiritual understanding of Him, an unselfed love." Eventually, I purchased a copy of Science and Health. But it was put on the bookshelf, where it remained for a long time.
Some years later, my son served overseas during the Second World War. At one point, when we hadn't heard from him for months, I became very anxious. So I prayed. Then the thought came, "Why, you've got the answer—that book on the bookshelf." I took the copy of Science and Health, and this time I read beyond the chapter "Prayer," but I still did not understand much of what I read. Yet a great sense of peace came, such as I had never felt before. (Eventually our son returned home, safe and grateful to be back.)
Soon after that I got in touch with a Christian Science practitioner, who showed me how to study the Bible Lesson outlined in the Christian Science Quarterly, using the Bible and Science and Health. This study helped me learn more of my true relationship to God. Psalm 100, verse 3, was helpful: "Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture."
