Article June 3, 1911 Issue

DISCOURAGEMENT OVERCOME

M. G. KAINS, M.S.

Is any mental state more universally accepted by mortals as genuine than discouragement? Is there any human being who has not experienced it? Has any one ever benefited directly or indirectly by yielding to it? and what is discouragement, after all, that any one should yield to it if it is, as its derivation declares, lack of courage?

This negative condition of mind has gained such a hold that humanity never thinks of its opposite, positive state as couragement; at least the English language has no such word, if the Standard dictionary be taken as authority. Nevertheless, this word, if its coinage may be allowed, expresses a positive, more active, desirable state of mind than the legitimate word encouragement. Discouragement and encouragement too often imply the influence of outside forces, the one of depression, the other of elation; couragement on the other hand would imply standing and holding one's own ground through strength from within. Discouragement and encouragement suggest the influence of foes and friends respectively, an influence usually transitory and ephemeral; couragement suggests that condition of mind characterized by Paul's expression, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

If there is one thing more than another for which beneficiaries of Christian Science have to be thankful, it is the attitude of mind that this purposely coined word, couragement, defines. Whether it be the hopeless invalid, the disheartened business man, the physical wreck, or the hardened wretch, Christian Science reverses, eliminates the dis and gives the sufferer courage to take the necessary steps toward improvement. What is courage but implicit faith? What can faith not do when moved by love?

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DISCOURAGEMENT OVERCOME

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