When I Left My Native country over sixty years ago, my dear mother very wisely packed the Bible, along with Science and Health, into my trousseau. I settled happily in my dear, adopted country, the two books went on a shelf with others, and I thought no more about them.
One day when I was doing my household chores, I trapped my finger in a door. When I looked at the injury, I got into a state of panic. I thought, "How on earth can I do the daily load of washing by hand?" (we had a young family by then). Loud and clear came the message: Science and Health! Trembling, wrapping my finger in a cloth, I took the book off the dusty shelf. Opening it, my eyes fell on these words: "... for man's extremity is God's opportunity'" (p. 266). I knew in my heart that God was speaking directly to me. Taking the bandage off after no more than twenty minutes, I could not believe what I saw—the deep wound had closed. I stood in awe. It works, it works! I thought. Second Corinthians tells us, "We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord" (5:8). There and then that inspiring message changed my life for good.
Not all my healings have been as quick as the first. Many years ago I was in constant pain from a hip problem. Although I was studying and searching Science and Health along with the Bible, there were times when discouragement took over. But I continued to stand firm and pray.
