"Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filieth the hungry soul with goodness" (Ps. 107:8,9).
Mary Baker Eddy clearly recognized the necessity of expressing gratitude to God for blessings received. So important did she feel this to be that she provided the Wednesday testimony meeting held in Christian Science churches for the acknowledgment of these blessings. Relative to this she says in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 149:) "Invite all cordially and freely to this banquet of Christian Science, this feast and flow of Soul. Ask them to bring what they possess of love and light to help leaven your loaf and replenish your scanty store. Then, after presenting the various offerings, and one after another has opened his lips to discourse and distribute what God has given him of experience, hope, faith, and understanding, gather up the fragments, and count the baskets full of accessions to your love, and see that nothing has been lost."
In reading the account of Jesus' feeding of the multitude as given in the ninth chapter of Luke, a student of Christian Science realized that a lesson could be drawn from it regarding our Wednesday testimony meetings. The disciples, seeing the hungry throng, suggested, "Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place." The people had been listening to what Jesus had to tell them of the kingdom of God. Now it was time for practical proofs of what a true knowledge of God's kingdom does for men. Sometimes in the time allotted for giving testimonies, when a pause comes, we believe that we have reached a desert place, that the testimonies must come from those who have more than we have to give. But Jesus did not acknowledge lack and barrenness, as typified by the desert place. He said, "Give ye them to eat." The argument came, "We have no more but five loaves and two fishes." In other words, we have too little to share. Jesus, however, took the loaves and fishes "and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude." And not only did everyone have sufficient to eat, but there were twelve basketfuls gathered up after all were satisfied.
