There is an old Chinese proverb which runs some­ thing like this: “Anybody can criticize, but it takes a noble soul to appreciate."

Often our first judgment is an adverse criticism of a person, situation, or condition concerning which we are really blind. Charity is needed if we are to help those about us. Remember, there is always a back­ground and a past, however striking the foreground and the present may be. Who knows how many have suffered a severe jostling of life’s seasons when they have bravely faced the storm which blew some months clean off life’s calendar pad? Some seem to have ab­solutely lost their spring season and yet are able to adjust themselves wonderfully to life and people with no self-pity and but little sympathy from understand­ing hearts. They may never have been privileged what nature might count the proper arrangement of seasons, and yet a hidden grace and strength have been theirs to look the world in the face, and even sing. We need song and music to help us along the dusty road. Often I think the music of such hearts has a depth and mean­ing (shall I say tone-quality?) lacking in those who have passed smoothly and blithely through each sea­son, correctly and in perfect order. Sacrifice mellows the tone and gives it a rich, deep, understanding quality.