“MADE EVERY WHIT WHOLE.”
BY ALMENA A. COWLES.
In July, 1868,
while practicing gymnastics in a ladies’ seminary, I strained the nerves of the
spinal cord. All my physicians have given it, as their opinion, that there was
spinal weakness several years previous to this, and those who have studied the
case most, think this trouble existed from childhood, and was, probably, a
constitutional weakness from birth. They also say that circumstances indicated
that in a few years I should have been a sufferer from spinal disease, even if
this accident had no occurred, but this hastened it. Under the care of my kind
and skillful physicians I obtained some relief, and at times, in the next two
years, I rode out, but there were months together when I was hardly able to
step from one room to another. After this I was confined to my bed helpless for
years. My whole system was diseased in sympathy, and not an organ but caused me
severe pain, especially my heart. Acute attacks of angina pectoris
caused alarm to my physicians and friends. In 1873 my dear mother died suddenly
from heart disease, from which she had suffered a year previous to my birth.
This shock, which was followed by other bitter trials, caused s sever attack of
cerebro spinal meningitis. Three years after this I had obtained relief
so far as to be able to step by wearing a spinal brace, and as the years
passed, there came days, perhaps months, when I could step without it; but I
often fell, and would be obligated to return to the support of the brace to
prevent my becoming wholly helpless again. The strain to keep up so wore upon
my nervous system that my brain was nearly worn out. My physicians said that
only my indomitable courage and will-power kept me up, and that I must have
rest. In all these years I had not one hour’s freedom form pain and was never
able to step alone up or down a step, or to go out into God’s beautiful world
or to have one night’s sweet, refreshing sleep. January 1, 1991, I was admitted
to the Adam’s Nervine Institute in Boston. I was confined to my bed, and
although under the care of the most skillful physicians in New England, I
continued to fail. The terrible agony of those last months is known only to
God. I tried in every way to bear up uncomplainingly, knowing as each
experiment failed, that the physicians would become discouraged and give me up.
I tired to speak hopefully. But oh, the agony of those days and nights. I
cannot even now thing of it without a shudder. It was beyond anything that can
be expressed in words. The time came when I could stay there no longer. They
had tried all the means in their power to help me, but God had ordered
otherwise. I was discharged from the Nervine Institute Aug. 25th.
Dr. H. sent me to St. Luke’s Home for a few days until I could be carried to
the Brooklyn to the Home for incurables. While waiting at St. Luke’s I found I
was under no doctor’s care. The attending physician insisted on not admitting
me and would not regard me as a patient, fearing I would fail and die. I left
off medicine, although I had it with me, and claimed Christ as my Physician,
knowing He had the power to make me well, or in His wonderful love and mercy
take me home. I requested Dr. C., a former physician, to bring me some faith people.
I knew none by name, and I had never met one person that understood this faith.
Dr. C. came with Rev. Geo. B. Peck, M.D., and Miss Charlotte Hanes.
Through the first
prayer when Dr. Peck prayed that I might be given more faith, Satan tempted me
in every way. IT was a terrible battle, but God gave me the victory. I was so
weak that I could only cry out form my heart, “Lord, I believe, help Thou mine
unbelief,” and was then ready for the anointing commanded in Jas. V: 14, 15.
The physicians left me. At my request Miss H. lingered. God gave me strength to
rise and I walked the length of the room without pain, then knelt and praised
the Lord for His wonderful goodness, rose and dressed and walked down stairs
slowly wholly healed of my diseases. I gained in strength rapidly. As my duties
have increased, more and more strength is given me, and it is wonderful what I
have accomplished in these six months by simply trusting in the healing power
and sustaining grace of Himself who said “My strength is made perfect in
weakness.” I am not allowed to use any will-power but rest in God’s love and
receive strength from Him moment by moment. I long to cry out to every
suffering one, “O, come and touch the hem of Christ’s garment and you too shall
be whole.”
Faith in the Holy
child Jesus shall make you free.
Let us, with
grateful hearts, “stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath
made us free and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” Let us sing
songs of praise and thanksgiving to God who because of His wonderful love to us
sent His only son to live, suffer, and die, to redeem us from the power of sin
and disease.
