Testimony of Healing February 22, 1908 Issue

I wish to express my gratitude for what Christian Science...

Frank L. Smith

I wish to express my gratitude for what Christian Science has done for me. I feel ashamed of myself for keeping silent so long, even going to the Wednesday evening meeting time after time and drinking in the great truths that have helped me to rise out of fear and suffering to a life that is healthful and harmonious, but not telling what has made such a change in my life. When Christian Science came to me I was already in the dark valley, with the clouds of error fast closing in upon me, a complete wreck, physically, mentally, and it seemed almost lost spiritually,—with all hope gone of ever being any better, either physically or spiritually. This condition had not come upon me all at once, but gradually, for about five years. I had very bad heart, lung, and kidney trouble and had tried everything that could be done in a material way. Two years of this time I never drew a breath without servere pain. I finally wound up in a hospital with a disease which settled in my lower limbs, and when I began to recover somewhat from this, I came down with another dreaded disease,—about seven attacks, covering a period of eight months. I became hopeless; physicians could do nothing for me; I could eat only the very lightest of foods, and my heart was so weak that physicians were afraid to put me under the influence of anesthetics so that they could operate on me. All that I could see ahead of me was the grave, and that did not look very inviting.

In this distressing condition Christian Science was brought to me by a friend, but I ignored it. I will confess that I did not know what it was, but this friend was not to be put off. Although not a Scientist at that time, she had heard what it was doing for humanity, so while I was having another hard attack of the old trouble she asked me if I would allow her to send a practitioner to have a talk with me. I consented, but without any hope whatever. The practitioner came and talked with me, and I began to see that she was expressing a sense of the truth which had often come to me in my Bible reading, although I begun to disbelieve the truthfulness of its teachings, as I had failed to see them put into practice in the church to which I belonged. I asked the lady to give me a treatment, and right then my mental condition changed. I got so much good out of the treatment that I knew there was something in Christian Science, although it took nearly a month to get a clear sense of the truth, to know just what had happened. I then bought a copy of Science and Health and begun to study. I have since been able, with a few treatments, to overcome all of these difficulties, and I eat anything that is set before me.

Words cannot begin to tell what Christian Science has done for me; and no words can express my gratitude for this great revelation of Truth. While I am very grateful for the physical healing I have received, I am more grateful for the spiritual understanding which I have gained. The world will never be able to repay Mrs. Eddy for her grand work and her steadfastness in the truth, but God will reward her with spiritual blessings. May I always be a loyal student of Christian Science, a Christian Scientist worthy of the name.

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