My gratitude for all the good which has accrued to me...

Dora Sohncke

My gratitude for all the good which has accrued to me from the study of Christian Science comes from the depths of my heart. Since the time when as a child I was taken ill with a fever and a throat affection, and later on with typhoid fever, in both of which cases I was given up by the physicians, I remained sickly, unable to attend school, and in every way hindered and handicapped. A severe cough was followed later on by distressing attacks of asthma, which cast a cloud on my own life and that of my dear parents. When to this were added disappointments and mental suffering, my nervous strength failed, and I broke down completely. Relief was vainly sought through consecutive sojourns in sanitariums, in hygiene, rest-cure, and innumerable medicines and tonics. Sleeplessness of long standing induced the physicians to give me opiates, and I lost the faculty of walking almost completely, which was supposed to be caused by an affected kidney. When a physician with the best of intentions compelled me to attempt to walk a little (about five minutes daily), dreadful crying-spells set in, which were of daily occurrence for a year. I was more ill when I returned from the sanitarium than before I left home.

A light then slowly began to illumine my thought. Although religious teaching had formed no part of my education and I was brought up in the atmosphere of natural science, I began to experience a great yearning after God, and my soul reached out for Truth. A sense of peace gradually came over me, and the more severe symptoms of disease disappeared, yet the awful sense of weakness remained, and I continued with the daily use of medicine. Through the decease of relatives I was finally left alone, practically unfit for life, and, according to medical opinion, without hope of ever recovering my health; but "man's extremity is God's opportunity." I turned to God, imploring His help, and help came. I made the acquaintance of a lady who mentioned Christian Science, of which I had never heard until then, even by name. She loaned me a copy of the text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, as well as Christian Science periodicals, and I began to read the testimonies of healing with incredulous surprise, as they seemed incomprehensible to my critical thought. Then a ray of hope lighted my consciousness—the truth seemed so near and the way thereto so beautiful.

I sought the help of a Christian Science practitioner in Dresden and met with the kindest response. After five weeks' treatment a transformation had taken place with me; all the functions of the body were self-regulated, and happiness and gratitude filled my heart. The year which has elapsed since has been the happiest of my life, and to the astonishment of all my friends I have become a new woman. Yet I did not take one drop of medicine. To be sure, I am still greatly lacking in understanding, but the way of Truth has been pointed out, and I try to walk in it with a sense of deep gratitude to God, and also to Mrs. Eddy, who has again made it plain to us. May this testimony be the means of bringing to a dejected heart new hope, such as I have gained through Christian Science.

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