I first came in contact with practical Christianity several...

Caroline M. Cox

I first came in contact with practical Christianity several years ago. I had been away for about five years, and upon returning to my home city to visit friends found that one of them had been healed in Christian Science of a physical ailment of fourteen years' standing and by several schools of medicine considered incurable. This physical healing was to me wonderful; but more wonderful was the spiritual regeneration and enlightenment. Being very cynical and critical, I would not acknowledge even to myself that I could ever change my conception of God and man, but this glimpse of the results of a fuller and more far—reaching religion planted the seed of hope which later bore fruit, for I was not much longer satisfied with the husks. Eight months afterward I borrowed a copy of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy from a public library, and read almost all day and half the night for some time.

My first healing was the laying aside of glasses, which had been worn constantly for six years. I simply forgot to put them on and read all day without them. They have never been used since, although the specialist who fitted me with glasses after treating my eyes said I would never have normal sight again, and that the lenses would have to be strengthened about every six months. I then calmly accepted this verdict and followed his advice, but now my eyes are in a perfectly normal condition and I use them constantly in many kinds of work.

I did not come to Christian Science for any specific healing, although I was a very frail woman, so slight and miserable that it seemed as if a strong wind would blow me away. The many minor ailments for which I had taken medicine almost daily, simply slipped away from me without specific treatment, and I have never been tempted to use material means since my first reading of Science and Health. When I recall the years of torture and mental darkness, with a desire to end my life, I feel that freedom from this is the greatest blessing which has come to me. My life for many years was one round of disappointments and loss of confidence in everything and everybody. Only my great love for my children and an intense desire to train them for usefulness kept me from ending my life. Four times I had provided myself with a drug to end the struggle, and four times mother—love was stronger than the cowardly desire. I could not say when my healing came in Christian Science, but one bright day I fully realized that I wanted to live, and with a thankful heart the many sayings of the Master came with new meaning.

The physical healing brings to me a high sense of gratitude, but it fades into insignificance when compared with the spiritual awakening. It is to me only one of the signs following a higher understanding of God and of man's relation to Him. I am sincerely grateful to that noble woman who was so spiritual as to see the grand verities of life, brave enough to express them, and courageous enough to live them and teach them. To this woman, Mrs. Eddy, the world knows not its debt, but we who are trying to put into practice what she taught may well remember that "he that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward."

As the mother of four children Christian Science is a great help to me. I have found the way to train them for real usefulness. I was never able to heal my children in Christian Science until I began to see their relation to God. Mrs. Eddy defines God as "Father—Mother" (Science and Health, p. 16), and this turning from the material to the spiritual parenthood has healed many diseases among them. I wish to express my thankfulness for this full and complete religion, which teaches that God is infinite Love. Christian Science is so broad and deep that it can be gained only in the appointed way,—"Precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little." My prayer is that I may practise the little I have gained of the knowledge of God.—

Caroline M. Cox, Dallas, Texas.

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Several years ago I was healed through Christian Science...

July 29, 1916

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