Testimony of Healing December 3, 1910 Issue

As an expression of gratitude for Christian Science, and...

Etta M. Gilbreath

As an expression of gratitude for Christian Science, and the many blessings that follow in its train, I send the following testimony: Eleven years ago I read for the first time "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," at the urgent request of a friend. I had passed through sorrow just previously, and for the first time in my life sickness and death had come near enough to show me the helplessness of human effort in battling with them. I found myself turning the problem of human life and death over and over, asking the same old questions of "why" and "wherefore" that have been asked since Adam appeared. The question that seemed most constantly with me was: Why did God do it? I felt as though a good reason would be very satisfying, but as it seemed an unsatisfying paradox, only growing worse at every step, my thoughts were confused by hopelessness, sorrow, and despair.

I accepted Science and Health without expecting it to offer more than a human theory about life,—even the name did not lead me to expect it to be religious; in fact, the chief incentive to my reading it at that time was the great kindness and sincere sympathy evinced by my friend, who placed a copy at my disposal. During my troubles I had felt that her sympathy had helped me, and when she gave me the book, telling me that I must read it, I felt that I could not refuse. I started timidly at first, and prayerfully, lest it should be misleading, but before I had gone very far I experienced that wonderful spiritual quickening which is so often spoken of in our meetings. I wish I could tell exactly what that experience meant to me, the wonderful awakening I had; how old things vanished and all things became new. It seemed as if the burdens, perplexities, doubts, and fears had all suddenly rolled away; as if the sun had emerged from behind the clouds, and everything was again bright and beautiful.

And what a feeling of strength, hope, and courage came! Those old troublesome questions, especially the question of death, were explained, and I felt a wonderful release to know that death was not of God. I read and reread the latter part of the chapter on Christian Science Practice, where that glorious truth is explained; it was so beautiful, so natural, and so true. There was such perfect joy to me in that freedom, that I used to declare over and over again, of those who had just passed from us (the members of our home circle), "They are not dead;" and so free was I made from the old bondage, that never since then has the thought of that change affected me as it did before.

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