During my growing-up years, God was presented as one who punishes and sends to hell those who come short of God's requirements. Although I loved the Bible and learned the stories of Moses, David, the prophets, and Christ Jesus and the disciples, there was much I didn't understand about the Scriptures. I was fearful of God, eternity, and the world around me, and thus I had little self-esteem.
After I graduated from high school and started college, I stopped attending church, feeling I didn't want to be involved in organized religion anymore. I began searching for a religion or philosophy that was in tune with my own thinking regarding God and my deep desire to help others. Over many years I read numerous books on various topics. None of these gave me the answer I was seeking.
During my years as a student, I met and married a man from a different country and culture. We had four children. I spent many of those years deeply depressed about life, often waking up dreading the day ahead. Our two oldest children went away to school in the Asian country my husband was from. After the youngest child was born, I again visited that country. There, a neighbor I had met on a previous trip gave me a copy of Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy.
