I owe a large debt of gratitude to a woman I never knew, my father's aunt, who let her light so shine that my mother wanted to learn something of the religion she recognized as the source of this relative's joy, health, and confidence. Consequently she took up the study of Christian Science, and I was enrolled in the Sunday School, where I learned to love the Bible and acquired an enduring respect for the teachings of Mary Baker Eddy.

During my busy high school and university years I drifted away from Sunday School, but a dear Christian Science neighbor maintained a warm and loving interest in me, even when I seemed to have abandoned all I had ever known of Christian Science.

It was not until I was married and expecting my first child, and wanted to prepare myself to be the best possible mother, that I finally began to seek out Science for myself. And it was a long hard path I had to travel, for I had become very involved with medical and materially intellectual concepts.

Specialists had diagnosed a thyroid condition that would require lifelong care and medication. I was also suffering from an ulcer, severe periodic difficulty, and a seasonal allergy, in addition to arthritis and a painful congenital condition of the spine. The daily dosage of pills had become routine. At this point I decided to take my stand for Christian Science and finally began to read and study seriously. Within a year I was completely free from all these physical problems, and have remained so.

At first, before my healing came, it was necessary for me to sit down with my textbooks, the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mrs. Eddy, many times during the day to imbibe the spiritual truth I knew was the source of man's energy. But the periods of forced rest became less needful until I felt for the first time the joy of true energy, which is natural to man as the expression of infinite, omniactive, and inexhaustible Life. The mesmerism of the allergy broke when I realized that Love, invariable Principle, could not inflict discomfort on man.

My desire to do something for Christian Science, which had done so much for me, led me to give up social drinking and seek membership in The Mother Church and a branch church. These recent years of active church membership have been uplifting testing times. But the knowledge that error is brought to the surface only to be destroyed, and the loving and consecrated help of practitioners at times of great need, have kept my heart expectant and have resulted in many beautiful healings. Love's outpouring has been abundant.

I feel especially grateful that I was initially led to a practitioner who kept nudging me out of the nest, encouraging me to try my own wings, for only by our own efforts do we gain the spiritual strength to help not only ourselves but also others. Gratefully, I have been able to do both.

For the firm and loving discipline of class instruction I am progressively grateful. It was a milestone in my progress Spiritward and remains both a challenge and an anchor. My appreciation of Mrs. Eddy's consecrated efforts also grows in proportion to my understanding of this wonderful Science, which she has revealed for the betterment of all mankind.

I must also express my gratitude for a husband who has allowed, even encouraged, me to pursue my own course though it is not the one he yet sees for himself; for the friendship and example of all those students of Christian Science who have blessed me with precious rebuke or encouragement as the occasion warranted; for the testimonies given in our church as well as those published in the Christian Science periodicals; and for The Christian Science Board of Lectureship.

In addition to numerous physical healings for which I am grateful, the regeneration of character, which is still taking place, is rewarding proof of God with us. My daily prayer is that I will learn to let my light so shine that another will be led as I was to the joyful, healing experience of Christian Science.

(Mrs.) Betty Beal Metzler
Pacific Palisades, California