During childhood my body did not develop normally, and I often fell because of an inability to coordinate. Unable to play games or run with other children, I was very sad.

I lived on a large farm in southern Illinois and attended a Protestant Sunday School in a little country church. My Sunday School teachers gave much attention to healings in the Bible, yet there was no explanation as to how they applied to our own daily lives. I prayed to God for healing. But I had no understanding of the true meaning of prayer, so my yearnings were merely a cry for help.

When I entered college, it was doubtful whether I could succeed. However, among my roommate's books was a copy of Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy. From the time I opened the book and read the chapter entitled "Prayer," I became an earnest student of this Science. After obtaining my own copies of the Bible, Science and Health, and the Quarterly, I began to study the Bible Lesson.

One day during my study of the Bible I read these words in Isaiah (40:4): "The crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain." To this day the joy of that moment and the recognition of God's healing power are with me.

In a few months my body became straight. I was fully healed and able to keep up with my college studies, along with extra activities in music and drama. Many undesirable traits of character also vanished during my reading of Science and Health. Later I worked with an instrumental group, playing a heavy musical instrument, and we had many bookings on stage and radio.

A more recent experience was the healing of grief when my husband passed on suddenly. The healing was a gradual one. After dwelling so long on the human condition—seeing myself as having been deprived of much-cherished companionship—I was led to read the chapter titled "Creation" in Science and Health, and to ponder often the following statement (p. 261): "Fixing your gaze on the realities supernal, you will rise to the spiritual consciousness of being, even as the bird which has burst from the egg and preens its wings for a skyward flight." As I gave much thought to the words realities supernal, the mental fog of gloom and loss began to lift, and the infinite ideas of Spirit, Soul, were revealed more clearly to me. My joy and peace were restored.

As a free-lance writer I am often asked to rewrite scripts unfamiliar to me, to meet an emergency. As a result of knowing that all right ideas emanate from the one divine Mind and are unlimited and timeless, I find that the work progresses smoothly, without stress or strain.

I have had over fifty years of membership in The Mother Church and in a branch church. I cherish deeply class instruction from a dedicated teacher of Christian Science. A successful business career and many lovely friendships have come to me through the practice of this wonderful teaching. For all the blessings I continue to have through the study of Science and Health, my gratitude is boundless.

Beulah W. Schwartz
Chicago, Illinois