WHEN I was quite young I had the measles which settled in my eyes, and for six months I was blind. I was under the treatment of the best oculists, and after six months I recovered the sight of one eye, but not enough to return to school and finish my education or read any at all.
A few years later I married. A little girl was born with eyes that could hardly bear the light; we had them treated by the best skill, but they grew worse as she grew older.
After the birth of my child I found myself an invalid. The sight of the one eye grew dimmer until at times I could not distinguish persons. I tried many physicians that were recommended; for seven years I suffered and saw my child suffer without relief.
I united with the Baptist Church, thinking there would be peace and rest in turning to God in that way, but all I gained was the thought that I must submit to God's will. At last the doctors refused to prescribe for me, but told me there was one hope for me and that was a change of climate, and advised me to go to Denver, Colorado.
A few days before I started a lady called on me and said she came to bring me good news. I said, "What is it?" she replied, "I came to tell you that you can be healed right here by Christian Science," I asked, "What is that?" She said, "It is the Truth that will show you that you are not blind, nor suffering." I told her that I knew I was blind, and almost a hopeless sufferer, and if that was the way they talked I did not want anything to do with it. She asked me to promise her that if after I had tried Colorado climate and found no relief, I would not try Christian Science as taught in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. I promised her I would.
I was soon on my way from the east to the far west. The next morning after arriving there I awoke and saw the bright sunshine, and the snow on the mountain peaks, and felt the fresh air, and was very much encouraged. I thought I would be better when I got rested, and for a time I seemed to be better, but I grow tired of the novelty of the change, and my troubles came on again. A physician was called, who on learning; of my condition, said he could not do anything for me and that my days were numbered.
Then I said, "Why did I come here? Why did I not spend my last days with my mother and child?" Then the thought came to me that I had one more hope, one more straw to grasp as a drowning man. It was the thought of my promise that I would try Christian Science.
It was quite difficult to learn the address of a healer six years ago, to one knowing nothing about it, but the need was met, and I was soon asking two (to me) very important questions of Mrs. W. The questions were these. "If I am healed can I make it my own, and be able to help others?" Her answer was "Certainly you can."
"And do I have to give up my God, and my church to be healed, and to heal? if so I do not want it, for I do not believe that one person can heal another, and as I have no proof, I would rather stand by my God, and my Church, if he has sent affliction on me all these years, than to think of entering the dark valley of death without God." She said, "Christian Science will not rob you of any good, or truth that you have, but will give you an understanding of the Truth that will make you free, and when you are free if you wish to work in your Church and worship the God that sends afflictions, you can."
I told her to begin at once. I did not see any change for a week; the first change was that I became peaceful enough to sleep well. After I had a good night's sleep I noticed that the sight had come back to my blind eye; with that I was overjoyed and shouted aloud, "I am healed, I am well." I knew that all was well if that spot was removed from my eye, and all has been well ever since.
My little girl, then seven years old, was healed of all troubles in a few weeks afterwards, through my understanding of the allness of God and the nothingness of false claims. I went through a class of one of Mrs. Eddy's students; Science was unfolded to me beautifully, and I began to see that all was Mind and its manifestation, and with that realization I went to work, speaking the Truth at every opportunity. Soon all my time was taken up in healing, for I had not a fear, or doubt that if I spoke the word of Truth the false claims would disappear, which they did.
I have given every day since my awakening to labor in the "master's vineyard." I had no trouble about working in the Baptist Church, for when I undertook to introduce the healing into the church, they very soon informed me that they did not want anything to do with Christian Science nor Scientists.
I learned that instead of having great sacrifices to make to gain the Truth, we have none to make, nothing to lose, but all to gain. In my case, "man's extremity was God's opportunity." I was compelled to turn from idols, from false gods, to the one God, who will supply every need, if we will but turn from our images and idols.
