I had all my life been frail and delicate, and with the...

Florence B. Dean

I had all my life been frail and delicate, and with the cares and duties incident upon maternity, conditions grew worse. After nine years of invalidism, under the constant care of faithful and conscientious physicians (eight in number), who greatly disagreed in opinions regarding me, and whose treatment included massage, electricity, etc., one whole year in bed, and a four-months stay at a hospital, where temporary relief was obtained through the loving care and thought expended on my case, the spring of 1900 found me a constant sufferer, with nothing but surgery held out to me, to which I would not submit, as experience and observation had taught me too much. With the weary hope that I might find help through the ministrations of my parents' family physician, I went to Washington, and the day after my arrival consulted him. I carried from the office the remedies he prescribed, but his diagnosis had further shaken my already disappointed faith in materia medica, and they were never used. The next day a dear Christian Scientist in the home invited me to go with her to the Reading Room and meet some of her friends.

I had never heard of Christian Science, except when a friend had timidly suggested the subject to me six months previous, as a possible solution of my trouble. I very indignantly repudiated the idea that it could be of any avail to one so sick as I, and forbade any further mention of the matter; whereupon she meekly subsided. Hence, in my ignorance and prejudice, I was not at all prepared for what I learned that day. Never shall I forget my first impressions of that peaceful, quiet room,—the gentle consideration shown to all inquirers, and the compassionate love manifested by the dear practitioner whom I asked to take my case. Her words in that first conversation brought to me the abiding conviction that the healing work of Christian Science was the same that Jesus taught his disciples. I caught a glimpse of the true spiritual healing which is the result of spiritual renovation, and I began at once to apply the teaching of the text-book to the task of the evangelization of self, and I saw that in exact ratio to the corrected thought the body responded.

Many times in our experience we have had occasion to thank God that our first steps were guided by the loving counsel of one whose discerning and unquestioning loyalty to Mrs. Eddy, and her full recognition of the importance of a just estimate of our Leader's position, undoubtedly may have saved us from bitter lessons which we might otherwise have been forced to learn. Day by day I improved, and the tenth day made the astonishing discovery that a difficulty I had neglected to include in my long list, when stating my case to the practitioner, was entirely removed. I was much impressed with her manner of receiving my announcement of this. I think I expected her to be as much surprised as I was but she assured me that as "Love" was "the universal solvent" (Science and Health, p. 242), it was divinely natural. Then I immediately expressed the fear that it would come back, which she met by saying that there was nothing to return, and these intervening years have proved it so.

At this time also glasses, carefully fitted by the oculist and used for two years, were laid aside—no longer needed. Every proof strengthened my hope and courage. The text-book was faithfully studied, services attended, and much time spent in the Reading Room, where all I learned confirmed my confidence that at last I had found "the truth" which Jesus said should make us free. During this period I wrote nothing home about my absorbing new interest. When at the end of six weeks I returned home, my husband found me so wonderfully improved that he was eager to know what had wrought the change, and the first reading of the text-book found him a willing disciple of the doctrine it taught, sufficient proof of which he already saw before him. So, gladly and thankfully, we and our boy set out to prove its teachings in our daily lives, and Christian Science has not only been our only physician since, but has brought us all the real happiness we have ever known. Gradually a few wished to hear more about this beautiful scientific Christianity, which led in due time to the establishment of regular services in our own home, and much good has thus been accomplished. More than one hundred different individuals have heard the Lesson-Sermons read here, and the "fruits" have followed in the healing of sickness and sin. Gratitude has many times been expressed for the wisdom of our Leader, in thus making possible these services in many places where years might have elapsed before one would have been found sufficiently advanced in understanding to bring this truth to a worthy expression in sermons, as formerly.

Divine Love has provided for our every need at the right time, and can any one wonder that we love Christian Science, for only lives of devotion can in any measure meet our indebtedness. Our hearts are full of gratitude to God, the giver of all good, and of good only, that our agonizing prayers for a knowledge of Him are now being through Christian Science; and we thank Him for our Leader's wisdom, fidelity, and unbounded love for mankind, in giving this truth to the world. God speed the time when the prophecy of Habakkuk shall be fulfilled. "The earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." May we aid in the answering of our prayers by working assiduously and intelligently for the establishment of the truth in individual consciousness.—Mrs. Florence B. Dean, Danielson, Conn.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Testimony of Healing

Christian Science has done so much for me during the...

July 7, 1906

Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit