In my late twenties I passed through what seemed then to be a very dark period. Following a divorce I was left with the care and upbringing of my two small children—a responsibility which I took very much to heart. Around then a friend gave me a copy of the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy, and I began reading it off and on. I derived a great deal of comfort and peace just from reading the book, although I didn't understand much of what it said.

At one point about two months later, I developed a very severe throat condition. I went to my regular physician, who diagnosed a strep infection. This was not new to me, as I had spent several weeks in bed and had had much doctoring when this condition had presented itself on previous occasions.

But this time I decided to try Christian Science for myself. I didn't know exactly what that meant, but I did know that I had to find out if what I had been reading in Science and Health was true. With this in mind, I called a practitioner listed in The Christian Science Journal and explained the situation to her. I asked that she pray for me, and she agreed to my request. I did not take any medication.

Three days passed without much evidence of improvement. At one point, in despair, I called the practitioner and said, "I so want Christian Science to be true. I don't want to have to turn back to medicine." She replied by asking me to be still and see the perfect man of God's creating. After we'd hung up, trying to be obedient, I went to the bedroom and stared into the mirror. The reflection staring back was feverish and swollen, looking very far from perfect. "What did the practitioner mean?" I thought.

Without any effort I suddenly remembered that many times as a young girl I had overheard my father talking on the business phone we had in our home. He would often say, "I see" as he spoke. Then I realized that the practitioner was telling me I needed to understand that in reality I was already the perfect man of God's creating. In that moment of revelation every vestige of the problem vanished. There was a snap in my throat. The fever left, the swelling subsided, and the pain and discomfort totally disappeared. This condition has never returned in the more than fifteen years since.

My need had been met! Here was the proof that I had so yearned for! Now I knew I could also trust my welfare and the welfare of my children to the teachings of Christian Science.

After this healing I began daily study of the Bible Lesson outlined in the Christian Science Quarterly. Three weeks later I realized that I had not even thought of putting on my glasses, which I had worn for reading since the sixth grade. This healing also has been permanent.

One day soon after this second healing, the children asked me please to stop smoking cigarettes; they were concerned about my health. The desire to relieve them of this concern prompted me to turn wholeheartedly to God for a solution. A few weeks later, after continued prayer and study, I realized that I had not even thought of buying cigarettes in that time. I knew I was healed. And when I saw that the understanding of Christian Science heals unhealthy appetites as well as unhealthy bodily conditions, I felt certain that Science was my answer for any kind of problem.

Two years later I married the dear friend who had quietly introduced me to Christian Science. Two years after that we were blessed with a child. In the time since then we have had many healings in our family. Some have been instantaneous, but we have also had healings that have come slower and as the result of much study and spiritual growth.

My gratitude for Mrs. Eddy's devotion and her love of mankind grows each day as I continue to study and practice this healing religion. How grateful I am that "divine metaphysics is now reduced to a system, to a form comprehensible by and adapted to the thought of the age in which we live" (Science and Health, pp. 146-147).

ELIZABETH W. SCHULTEN
St. Louis, Missouri

The Mother Church is The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts. Its branches are called Churches of Christ, Scientist, and Christian Science Societies.