The two great Cleveland colleges, Western Reserve U. and Case School of Applied Science, have been bitter rivals for years and years - on the football field, with the Reserve Red Cats winning 90% of the time. On this particular occasion, after a lot of ballyhoo from Case, she received a shocking defeat at the hands of Reserve. The next day the two great presidents, Dr. Charles E. Wickenden of Case and Dr. Vinson of Reserve met on the platform at a great civic affair - to promote the Cleveland Community Fund. Dr. Vinson twitted Dr. Wickenden about appearing in public after yesterday's embarrassing football score. Dr. Wickenden serenely replied, "That was yesterday." And that was all he said - in reference to the game. No excuses, no explaining, no post mortems. The defeat, the humiliation belonged to "yesterday." We can take a lesson from this great man, Dr. Charles E. Wickenden, who has grown in mental, moral and spiritual statue, year by year. He knew, all along, that you can't take man's measure by how well he can play football. But to leave the mistakes - the errors - of yesterday with yesterday - what a great step toward success!
Did you make terrible mistakes in your child-training, as I did? Take your job too seriously, and rob the children of their childish laughter? Well, that was yesterday. You can't go back, and live the years over again. So start right from here - and be strong and gay - and let them know you're terribly proud of the worthwhile things they do. Has your husband philandered a little? (Mine hasn't, thank the Lord). I used to think that was one thing a wife could never forgive. But I've changed my mind. We all have our human frailties. When there is complete repentance and change of conduct, there should be complete forgiveness. There are countless characters in Biblical history alone, whose yesterdays had to be forgiven and forgotten before they became immortals. Jacob, a cheat and a schemer, became Israel - "soldier of God." Moses, the violent-tempered young man, who committed murder, became Moses the Meek, who patiently waited upon God's law and with infinite patience led the children of Israel out of Egypt and through 40 years of rebellion and mutiny, right to the door of the promised land. King David, who sinned with the beautiful Bathsheba, sent her husband, Uriah, the Hittite, to the front of the battle, so that he died. Many and cruel were the crimes he committed. Yet he became the "sweet singer of Israel," whose psalms are immortal. Peter, who declared again and again his love for the Master, denied Him in His hour of need. But that hour of weakness became a yesterday. And Peter finally lived up to his name, "The Rock," upon which Christ's church was built. Saul, who sanctioned the stoning of Christians by holding the coats of the cruel executioners, became "Paul," the greatest apostle of them all - the greatest ambassador for Jesus Christ.
I'm afraid the column is more than filled. But may I leave this thought with you: Let's leave all our mistakes behind with the departure of 1941; bury the bad yesterday; keep all our nerve energy, our mental, moral, spiritual forces for building glorious todays and tomorrows. A fine, forward-looking New Year to you all.
Affectionately,
Florence B. Taylor.