About four years ago a friend of my husband came to...

Hedwig Schwenk

About four years ago a friend of my husband came to see us, and as he used to be silent and self-contained, I was very much surprised to find him so completely changed,—radiating joy, so to speak. He seemed to have become a new man, and I thought he must have had an indescribably beautiful experience. I could not help expressing my surprise, and he finally said that he had become an adherent of the teachings of Christian Science, and that this was what had produced such a change in him. I had never before heard of Christian Science, and was interested in what he had to say, but as we saw him only occasionally, the thought did not at first take root. Then came years of great sorrow, years of care, work, and need, which robbed me of my former strength. I felt I had reached the limit of my mental and physical endurance, and was utterly tired in mind and body; but I had to live on, for many duties held me.

One day I looked among my books for the copy of the Herold which our friend had given us years before. So far it had lain unnoticed, but now I read it through attentively; then with a heavy heart and in a state of great discouragement I asked for help in Christian Science. The practitioner who kindly took up treatment gave me a psalm to read while she was treating me. Had I not read it often before? "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me;" I felt as if a bandage had been loosened from my eyes; and as if a strong hand had taken mine. Now I had found the true way which I had sought for so long, and I went home a new woman. Although the waves of earthly cares would often rage around me, I knew that no evil could befall me. All sense of unrest and worry had left me and was replaced by courage and buoyancy. Can I describe the blessings Christian Science has brought to me? Can I describe how God has firmly guided me as I walked, trusting that He would lead me over all rough and dark places?

On one occasion fear sought to confound me. I suddenly experienced a sense of great distress about my eldest boy, who is going through a practical course of farming far from home; but I realized that my child was in God's protecting arms even in that far-off place, that evil could not come upon him, and the words, "Fear not: for I am with thee," illumined the darkness of my sense, and I regained my tranquillity. A few days later I had a letter from my son in which he wrote that two days before he had been in great danger. The horses which he was driving suddenly became startled and ran away. He held the reins, but one of these gave way and the horses galloped all the faster. He believed himself lost, when the thought suddenly came to him, "No, I am in God's hand; He will protect me." The horses stopped running, and he was able to jump off the wagon safely. He added, "I thanked God for my wonderful escape." This is what my child wrote to me, and I gave thanks, for I knew it was the hour when I had been overcome by a sense of fear for him, but had regained strength by the words, "Fear not, I am with thee."

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