For the innumerable blessings I have received through...

Auguste Thieme

For the innumerable blessings I have received through the teachings of Christian Science I would say with the Psalmist: "I will greatly praise the Lord with my mouth; yea, I will praise him among the multitude." Poverty, sickness, and discontent had a depressing effect upon me even as a child, and with increasing years these inharmonious conditions became still more difficult to bear. As I was obliged to earn my own livelihood I often felt tired and lacking in energy. Medicines had hardly even a temporary effect, and at last I was in such a state that I considered myself one of the most unfortunate of people, whom nothing could comfort or help, not even God. My religion had not satisfied me for a long time, so that I no longer attended the church to which I had formerly belonged. Hence I seemed involuntarily forced to resign myself to what appeared to be my fate.whenI had seemingly reached the culminating point of my discontented life, the first ray of light came. It was the be ginning of my regeneration.

Atthat time, in 1908, a lady with whom I was living told me something about a teaching—Christian Science—which could make people well and happy. The little I heard made a deep impression upon me—especially the words we find in the Gospel of Matthew: "No man can serve two masters;" that is, no one can rely upon material means and on God simultaneously. The result of this conversation was that I destroyed the pills the doctor had prescribed, and have never again used material remedies for my health; whereas, prior to this time I was always using them. I was so interested in what I had heard that very soon I gave up my position in the country, and went to my home town to learn more of this teaching, and thus help my sick brothers and sisters. To my regret, they did not accept this teaching; but I found in it that of which I was in need.

Since there was no Christian Science church or society at that time in my home town, and very little was known about this teaching, I received a copy of "Science and Health with key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, in the English language, privately. The German translation had not yet been published. Although I was not familiar with English, I studied the book alone with the help of a dictionary, for I was unable to pay for lessons. The study of the Lesson-Sermon in the Christian Science Quarterly was very slow work, but the blessing did not fail to appear. Several complaints, such as chronic anaemia, intense nervousness, catarrh of the stomach, an internal disease, and constant headaches from which I had suffered for years, disappeared gradually, solely through this study. Lack of supply also yielded through my growing understanding of Truth and the recognition that God alone provides for and sustains His spiritual idea, man. I learned also to understand that God is an ever present help in sickness, danger, lack, and mental suffering.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

For the innumerable blessings I have received through...

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access