I can only say, "Thank You,...

Nellie Elizabeth Erickson

I can only say, "Thank You, Father," to God for the student of Christian Science who let her light shine so brightly that I could not help seeing the way. Gently, quietly, she spoke to me about this religion or read some passage from our textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, as the occasion occurred.

At the first opportunity I went to the local Christian Science Reading Room and bought my own copy of Science and Health. I could not put the book down and read far into the night. I was hungry for its contents. Here was something practical, an explanation of God and man that I could accept and use, and slight though my understanding was, I did use it to extricate myself from many difficulties.

When my elder son was seven years old, he fell from a height of about eight feet and broke his collarbone. At that time I knew the address of only one Christian Science practitioner. I sent him a telegram explaining our need. When I received no reply, I felt sure he was out of town.

I did not want to take the boy to a doctor to have the bone set until the practitioner was on the case, and, expecting to hear from him momentarily, I put the arm in a sling and began to work as we are taught in Christian Science to the best of my ability.

One statement from our textbook stood out clearly to me, "Man is the same after as before a bone is broken or the body guillotined" (p. 427). I was so thoroughly convinced of the truth of that statement that I was not disturbed when I did not receive an answer to my telegram.

The shoulder began to straighten, and the arm resumed its natural position. On the fourth day I received word from the practitioner, saying that he had just received my message and asking if we still desired his help. Gratefully I was able to answer that the boy was healed. This healing was verified by a government doctor years later when my son entered the service of our country during World War II.

Another wonderful proof that "man's extremity is God's opportunity" came when we were living in a small community where a new oil field was being developed. The residential section was situated well away from the rest of the town in a stand of virgin pine trees. We were completely without fire protection or even a telephone. A short distance from our home there was a small open place where an old log lay on a thick bed of pine needles. Here the children in the neighborhood often played.

One morning, after the men living in the area had all left for the day, the children went out to play. Soon I heard excited voices, and, looking out, saw smoke coming from the direction of the old log. I went at once to the scene. By the time I arrived, the fire was out of control.

The wind was carrying the flames away from my own home but directly toward many other homes. I knew only God could control the situation. Feeling I must be alone to work in Christian Science, I took my two children by the hand and walked toward my home. The thought of the justice of God was uppermost in my consciousness, and I spoke aloud the thoughts that came to me so that the children might hear. They listened in silence and appeared to accept each statement as fact.

Although I had left the scene of the fire to get away from the picture of destruction, when I reached my door I was impelled to turn and look back. To my great joy no blaze was to be seen, and the smoke was dying down.

I am grateful for membership in The Mother Church, for class instruction, and for the opportunity to have served in almost every capacity in branch church work. I am humbly grateful for Christian Science.—(Mrs.) Nellie Elizabeth Erickson, San Jose, California.

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