In 1916, as a result of the hardships of the World War,...

Alice Bahlinger

In 1916, as a result of the hardships of the World War, my husband became ill with a severe case of articular rheumatism, which kept him in bed for months. The doctors found no remedies which would free him from his great pain. Then I remembered Christian Science, of which my sister had spoken to me. I asked for help in Science for my husband, and he was healed in a single treatment. In spite of the fact that I found help a number of other times in Christian Science, I later seemed to forget about it again, for the textbook, Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy, had seemed to me incomprehensible.

Some years later I fell very ill with dilation of the heart and nervous attacks. My husband was also suffering from calcification of the coronary artery. Not having faith in the help of Christian Science, we turned to various doctors and went from one hospital to another and stayed at various sanatoriums. Our textbook lay forgotten in the bookcase. We stood as if on the brink of a dark abyss, for all human help had failed. But "man's extremity is God's opportunity."

At this time of extreme need my sister visited us, the one through whom we had previously become acquainted with Christian Science. After I had passed a night of severe suffering of the heart and nervousness, she lovingly reminded me that the textbook of Christian Science was in my possession and that I might read it. At first I did not want to do this because I maintained I did not understand anything of it. But when my sister explained God's spiritual creation to me and showed me that God is Love, and that He always loves me as His child, everything unreal fess away from me and I was free of the errors which had fettered me for years. My husband, too, was freed from his trouble and could again enjoy life.

The glorious statement in the Preface to the textbook (p. vii), "To those leaning on the sustaining infinite, to-day is big with blessings," then became illumined for me, and I saw that I had never yet relied on God, but always on people. Now things became different. I studied the textbook and became absorbed in the Scriptures, in the weekly Lesson-Sermons in the Christian Science Quarterly, and in the other works of our Leader; and the more I studied, the greater became my hunger for Truth. From a deeply grateful heart I can say that I became constantly better acquainted with God, and in this way I was healed of many other troubles, such as nearsightedness, swollen legs, indigestion, and female trouble.

At the beginning I saw that I must become better, that I must gain the Christ-spirit in order to be able to do the works that Christ Jesus did. This has remained my most earnest desire.

Endless blessings have come to me and mine through Christian Science; and I could tell of countless proofs of its efficacy. A short time ago, when my dear husband passed on, it was again the Christ, Truth, which helped me to overcome grief, through the knowledge of Life, God, and the nothingness of matter. Never has God's love been so close and perceptible to me as in those days of apparent heartbreak. From all sides evidences of love poured in upon me; I had to acknowledge that all is Love and that there is no death, no sorrow, and no separation. Love binds up and heals all wounds. As we read in the textbook (p. 6): "'God is Love.' More than this we cannot ask, higher we cannot look, farther we cannot go."

A life without Christian Science has now become thinkable to me. I am deeply grateful for the fact that I am a member of The Mother Church and of a branch church, as well as for the blessing of class instruction. I thank our dear Leader for her great love for God, and for her neighbor, which impelled her to search for the Christ, Truth, and to give it anew to suffering humanity. And to our Father-Mother God be praise and glory for all!—(Mrs.) Alice Bahlinger, Zoppot, Danzig Free State.

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