Testimony of Healing July 26, 1919 Issue

My life up to the time I found Christian Science was...

Harriet Reynolds

My life up to the time I found Christian Science was spent searching for God, visiting all the churches and investigating every new belief. Of the Jewish religion, in which I was born, I knew very little. In 1910 my father passed on, and when I went to the temple with my mother, the "prayer and ceremony" for the dead filled me with fear and depression, so that for about five months afterwards I lived in fear and trembling, afraid of everything. Without work and almost a complete physical and mental wreck, I longed for death, as I thought there might be some possible chance then of knowing more than I could ever find out here about God. I had become the victim of two very bad habits to make me "sleep and forget" as I thought, but was sleeping less and became a nervous wreck. I was irritable, faultfinding, discontented, and impossible to live with.

While in this terrible state the thought came to me one day that there must be some power, and this power good, upon which we could depend for deliverance from evil and for our needs in life. As this great truth dawned upon me I cried, "There is such a power; there is a God: now where shall I find Him?" The words "Christian Science" came to me—here was my answer, and I recognized it as such. I immediately went to a Christian Science church a short distance away and asked the lady in charge of the reading room there to tell me how to become a Christian Scientist. Like a child I drank in all the uplifting words that were spoken to me, and after a long talk I left the room with a copy of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," which was kindly lent to me. When I reached the street it seemed as if mountains that an hour before were walled up in front of me had been removed; I was free from fear and care and was filled with joy and peace.

Being a Jewess I did not feel very comfortable when I found the name Jesus in the teachings of Christian Science, but this was quickly overcome as I knew nothing about his life except from hearsay, and quickly realized upon reading that he was good and kind and his teachings were all good. The next day I obtained work, and in a few days my husband joined me in the same work; the bad habits were overcome and I no longer was afraid, but knew that only good could come to me. My peace and joy are assured, and I have been able to help many a wanderer back to his Father's house. Words are inadequate to express thanks for the good received through the study of Christian Science, and our gratitude can be best expressed in pure living, unceasing prayer, and in helping our fellow men.

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