Speaker: Gratitude to God is a vital factor in overcoming all human discord. When self-consciousness seemed to be blocking her progress in every direction, it was the power of gratitude that brought freedom to our guest. But let Miss Joan Weston, of Pasco, Washington, tell you about it herself.

Miss Weston: Up to just a few years ago I'd always been terrifically afraid of talking to people. It was pretty extreme with me; I would cross the street to avoid meeting someone I knew. Then I used to lie awake nights, trying to figure out ways of avoiding recitations in school. Most of the time I preferred to take a failing grade in these recitations and then try to make up for it in the written assignments. It was even hard for me to answer a roll call.

After I graduated from high school, I began doing clerical work for a large company. But when the telephone would ring, I'd go to great lengths to avoid answering it, because I wouldn't be able to speak. My throat would completely close, and no sound would come out. You see, I'd had a stutter ever since I was quite young, and the sense of withdrawing from people had come at first because of that. I'd try to talk, the fear would build up, and I wouldn't be able to say a word. I was always in a state of wondering how I could avoid having to speak. It finally reached a point where I was just stymied in my work. Of course, there wasn't any chance for advancement, and the whole situation seemed rather desperate.

I knew through my study of Christian Science that basically a change in thinking was needed, and the way to bring this about was through a better understanding of God. So I went to a Christian Science practitioner for help, and she prayed for me. Then one evening she made a statement I'll always remember. She said to me, "If you aren't grateful for the good you already have, you might as well not have it."

I thought about this and realized I had to be grateful for the abundance of good that God has already given to His children. From all the study in Christian Science I was doing, I knew this included freedom, dominion, confidence in place of fear. This became clear to me as a result of the understanding I was gaining of the nature of God and of man in His image and likeness. Also there's a statement of Christ Jesus I turned to a lot. It's where he said, "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh."

This helped me a great deal. Then one evening I attended a Wednesday testimony meeting at the local Christian Science church. When it came time for people to give testimonies of healing and expressions of gratitude, I began thinking about all the healings I'd seen in my own family and about the protection and healings I'd had.

All of a sudden a little light dawned—or a big light. The words from an anthem came to me, "Arise ye ... get ye up unto Mount Zion." And this conveyed to me the thought of inspiration and spiritual strength. Then before I knew it I was on my feet expressing all the gratitude I felt, and the words came without effort, full and clear! Since that night I've been completely free.

From that time on, I began doing things I never dreamed I could ever do before. At work I had no trouble handling three phones and an intercom set. A whole new world has opened up to me and I've been able to take advantage of so many new opportunities. I have an entirely new awareness of people; I see them in a new light, based of course on a fuller appreciation of what they really are as reflections of God. In other words, I feel at home with them. I can deal with them now with the thought of what I can give rather than how I can avoid even talking to them.

I'm so grateful for the understanding of God that Christian Science has given me. It's so wonderful to know that no matter what the conditions in the world may seem to be, young people now growing up can turn to God and find a sense of purpose in life and of peace, stability, and security.

Speaker: Thank you. Miss Weston. You've been very helpful in sharing that experience with us.

Friends, in the opening chapter of the book of Genesis we read that God gave man dominion. Then what is it that would seem to make us shrink into a corner—avoid meeting people and talking with them—that would seem to make us shirk responsibility rather than face up to legitimate obligations? It must be ignorance of the fact that God gave man dominion over every condition or circumstance that would produce fear or failure.

There are beautiful illustrations in the Bible of how people over-came self-consciousness and timidity. One is that of Jeremiah, who is relating what happened when God called him to be ordained as a prophet. The account reads: "Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord. Then the Lord put forth his hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said unto me, Behold. I have put my words in thy mouth."

Christian Science, which is in complete accord with the inspired Word of the Bible, recognizes as did the prophets and our great Master, Christ Jesus, man's God-given dominion over every discordant condition. This dominion is found not through mere ability, personality, or human background; it is found through the understanding that man in God's likeness, reflects all the glorious qualities of God. In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mary Baker Eddy says of the man of God's creating (p. 518), "His birthright is dominion, not subjection."

Self-consciousness, on the other hand, is fear, a negative quality that would seem to deprive us of happy friendships, block the way to progress, obstruct the way to learning, and withhold the outpouring of good that blesses us and helps others.

All this our guest realized. But then she made a sincere effort to overcome this unhappy situation through a deeper understanding of God. And what happened? Gratitude to God for His great goodness and love flooded her consciousness. And from the moment she began to express this gratitude, every phase of her experience was richly blessed.

You know, when the waters impounded by a dam are released into their proper channels they can generate power and light. And when gratitude to God floods our consciousness, spiritual light and confidence govern our experience. This is so because gratitude acknowledges God's infinite power, His ability, wisdom, and love, which spiritual man reflects abundantly.

Gratitude brings freedom, stability, poise: it brings inspiration, joy, spiritual strength. Gratitude releases the throttle, so to speak, and sends us forward with confidence and courage into new experiences, new discoveries of God's goodness to man. Mrs. Eddy asks this question in Science and Health (p. 3): "Are we really grateful for the good already received?" And she continues: "Then we shall avail ourselves of the blessings we have, and thus be fitted to receive more."

The musical selection on the program was Hymn No. 147 from the Christian Science Hymnal [In God I find a precious gift).