In Isaiah we read (9:2), "The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined."

The great light of Christian Science came to me over thirty years ago. After the birth of our second baby, complications set in, and the members of the medical profession who were consulted could do nothing. One night I felt the end was near; the burden of life seemed so very heavy that I would have gladly laid it down but for the thought of leaving our seven-year-old girl and the baby. The doctors said she was a blue baby and could not possibly live.

Being in hospital away from my family, I was in deep despair. However, some years previously Christian Science had been offered to me by my mother, but I had not accepted it. This night I called on God and asked Him where He was, and if He could not help me for the children's sake. The thought came to me, "Try Christian Science." For a fraction of a second, I was stunned. Again the insistent thought, and again I argued against it; then it came the third time. How could I contact anyone? What could I do?

Then my thought turned to a woman who used to visit my mother and who was, I always thought, so kind and loving. I decided to write to her.

Next morning I asked the nurse for pen and paper. I knew she was amazed, because I had taken no interest in anything for months. I had been unable to walk, suffering from insomnia and a complete nervous collapse. The doctors, who were always very kind, gave me everything to help me sleep, but of no avail. I had been a keen athlete and tennis player, but had been told that if I recovered, I would walk only with the aid of sticks.

This was the situation when I wrote to the woman, asking for her prayers. It has always seemed a miracle that she got the letter the same day, because she lived many miles away. However, that night I slept. The woman's prayers had done for me what the doctors had failed to do.

Next morning the nurse was standing by my bed, and with a smile she asked, "Do you know you have slept right through the night?"

I immediately, without any thought, said: "Isn't it wonderful? That's Christian Science."

She looked at me bewildered, wondering what I was talking about. Following this, I begged my husband to take me home. It was not easy, because the doctors were against it; but in spite of the opposition, I won my way. I knew that God, who had heard my cry in my despair, would carry me through and also the baby.

I shall ever be grateful for the love and kindness of this practitioner. When the time came that I was well enough to go to church, she used to take me there and fetch me home. The members of the congregation were wonderful. The Wednesday testimony meetings were a revelation. I used to listen intently for any truths that would help me.

One evening a testifier quoted these words by Mary Baker Eddy from "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 463): "A spiritual idea has not a single element of error, and this truth removes properly whatever is offensive." The words seemed to sink into my consciousness so much that I knew they were for me.

I had been told I must never put my foot to the ground without bandaging my legs. When I got home, I was removing the bandages before going to bed. I thought: "Well, I am truly a spiritual idea, and none of this is true." In the morning I did not put the bandages on. I forgot them. Later I looked down at my legs, and they were healed. I had had an instantaneous healing. Since then, I have walked miles.

The baby was also healed, and the children were enrolled in a Christian Science Sunday School. Both of them, through the years, have had marvelous healings through Christian Science.

I am profoundly grateful for class instruction and for the privilege of helping others by forming a group of Christian Scientists who meet informally to hold services and by serving as First Reader. The Master, Christ Jesus, said (Matt. 10:8), "Freely ye have received, freely give." I am grateful that Mrs. Eddy's pure life made it possible for her to discover Science and to explain in the textbook, Science and Health, how the Master worked to cast out sin, disease, and death and how we can do healing work as well. He is indeed our Way-shower, and I am thankful to God, our Father-Mother, for the great privilege of learning of Him aright.—(Mrs.) Florence A. Mapp, Northwich, Cheshire, England.