GIVE US TOMORROW

[Music] [Music] life for george has become a road of shadows like so many of us george has lost the way whether asleep or awake his life is a nightmare [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] coming jimmy [Music] [Music] come jimmy [Music] [Music] george not so fast be careful [Music] oh [Music] [Music] george i heard jimmy is the second time this week you've got to snap out of it i heard him what's happening to you it's been six months we've got to start over you've got to get the accident out of your mind how can i i think i feel every time i see him that thing and i know what you're thinking i put you there and i killed our son stop putting words in my mouth and stop accusing yourself the coroner's jury said it was an accident the honey involved what else did you expect george but everyone knows i'm guilty they're afraid to say it to my face but they're thinking the past is past there's nothing we can do about it [Music] [Music] george do you think your father would rather i invited judge conklin or mr erickson you know you can't invite them both to the same party i don't know i wish we knew exactly when dad was going to arrive i do want to give him a nice welcoming home party helen why is dad coming home now it didn't come at the time of the accident why did he decide to come now darling he's been away over a year don't you want to see him did you call him i told you he called me but i would have called him if i thought he could help i'd do anything george when dad gets back let's let him take over for a while we've never had a second honeymoon let's take one now helen what good does it do to pretend pretend jimmy's dead and i'm in this wheelchair those are facts but we don't have to lose each other too we can have a good life together i won't give up you've got to try [Music] sit down george i've been watching you and i'm concerned about you i'm sure you just can't there's no calm george i'm talking to you as a friend ten years ago i presided over your first case i hate to see you go to pieces like this i'm not going to pieces this brief was completely irrelevant to the case you need some help boy would you do yourself a favor what kind of a favor will you go see dr fielding dr fielding what are you talking about i don't need a psychiatrist maybe not but if you don't i'm sure he'll tell you so but i think you need some help go to a psychiatrist you've told me many times that dr fielding was one psychiatrist that you had confidence in i want to make an appointment for you [Music] obviously you don't want to talk about these things who would frankly it's humiliating for me to be here i understand that we never like to depend on someone else but there are times when we all need to talk about our feelings and there are times when we all want to be left to ourselves yes that's right but sometimes others can understand our needs but we can't fully understand ourselves perhaps if you just told me how you're feeling i how could you possibly understand how i feel you've got a son playing football and you don't think it's quite right that my son should be playing football when your son is it's not a question of right and wrong it's i can't explain it to you i've got to work it out for myself what about your friends my friends i know what they're saying behind my back what are they saying oh i don't care what they say it doesn't matter to me don't you really care really no i don't and i don't care to sit here any longer and answer any more stupid questions i only came because judge conklin asked me to frankly it's a waste of time i suppose i owe you the usual fee there's no fee george we haven't started any treatment besides you may want to come back sometime i hope so [Music] southwest section of the property building specifically just [Music] it's 5 30 mr harding do you have anything else for me mr harding no ms constant nothing else you can go thank you oh and mrs harding called and said be sure and not forget the party for your father tonight yeah thank you it's nice your father came back isn't it yes it is good night ms dobson good night [Music] [Applause] [Music] i'd give you a bad time last night there oh we managed all right toast thanks people at the party well when i told them that you got tied up on a case they they didn't bat an eye yeah but there's a very nice article in the paper of course it's more about dad than a party but it's very nice look what i found for you among my shirts this morning oh now we get to the real loot oh dad it's beautiful where does it come from from a little shop in bangkok ah perfection look george that's nice and very generous dad all these trinkets always mean less to anyone who gets them that may do to the one who goes around and discovers them i question that no i mean it you know this is a wonderful world we live in and i think it's about time that you too get out and see some of it so i'm going to take over the office for a while and pack you off just like that huh well i knew it would come sooner or later got it all figured out haven't you george well i'm fed up with advice once and for all i don't want to go anyplace george please it's all right helen i asked for it maybe new places will make us think of new things it can help what makes everybody think they have to help makes them think they can look some uh you're not the first one that's been eaten up with regret when your mother died all i could think of was everything we had planned to do together and could have done if i hadn't been so wrapped up in law and politics it was too late these things didn't seem so important how did it change things to run away george that was entirely uncalled for that's true helen you can't change the past and you can't run away from yourself either what made the difference in you then well this will surprise both of you i learned to pray not just with words but but deep down inside would you mind excusing me from this revival meeting look dad come back to the office if you want to but do me a favor will you cut the preaching the 30 years too late daddy he doesn't mean to be cruel well you don't have to apologize to me helen i understand george only too well [Applause] reverend dwyer i have heard you say that we learn the meaning of scripture through our experience now what is that verse as ye so so shall you reap i know the meaning of that now george is the proud arrogant young man that i have made him you feel very strongly about this don't you yes i do when the chips are down he hasn't got anything to turn to because i never gave him anything you know i think the trouble with george is he just can't conceive of forgiveness he needs to understand god's love and mercy how can i help i don't know mr harding so much depends upon the time the opening words sometimes only build walls of misunderstanding and resentment but love is a powerful force you can love him and accept him in spite of his bitterness i'm trying to do that but george needs something more would you could you go and see him i've tried a number of times but he's always refused to see me really there's not much anyone can do until george wants help of course i'll go on trying thank you [Music] yeah the reverend dwyer is here to see you mr hardy [Music] all right cinnamon [Applause] i'm glad you could see me george i didn't have much choice my father had already opened the door for you is this the way you usually greet a client client yes i've come to consult you about a case i think i know the case you're referring to and you don't feel like talking about it do you well frankly no you think i have no business intruding in your life is that it that's exactly how i feel i'm an adult i can take care of myself george the strongest men are those who know when they need help this is something i have to face alone can you can i of course i can and without a sermon to help i didn't come here to preach i came as a friend i don't want a friend i'll face it alone no one can do that god is by your side whether you think so or not condemn me for killing my son george you've practiced law too long god is not only a judge he's a merciful father who cares more than we can ever know the only thing standing between you and god's forgiveness is your own refusal to accept it look i told you before no sermon all right george i'll be around if you ever change your mind and want to talk about it thanks for coming in anyway goodbye [Music] my [Music] hey [Music] [Applause] according to the traffic report you were traveling through an intersection of 65 miles an hour is that correct i don't know uh the citation is correct your honor the report further shows that you failed to pass a sobriety test and fought with the arresting officers we agree to the facts of the citation your honor the court has no alternative but to find the defendant guilty as charged under sections 243 and 247 of the municipal code the court therefore places the defendant on probation for one year and suspends his driver's license for that period and further imposes a fine the three hundred dollars thank you your honor we realized that this sentence could have been even more severe i will be personally responsible for my son during his period of probation i don't need anyone to be responsible for me i'll be responsible for myself next case there's your hometown spirit for you there it is right on the front page of this filthy sheep [Applause] get a man down and how the wolves love it it could have been much worse george and you could have gone to jail no thanks to you i did we stipulate your honor we plead guilty your honor thank you your honor you call out a defense but you were guilty weren't you and who taught me that the guilty man needs a defense more than the innocent man do you remember those words yes i remember them we could have beaten this case one show of fight no judge conklin would have wilted he knows who put him on the bench we could have postponed the case until it was forgotten said something else you taught me remember never try a case until the grass is green on a dead man's grave i remember george and i'm trying to live with it i was wrong and i've had to find forgiveness for the past forgiveness please george listen to me i'll leave me alone will you [Music] oh god help me i was afraid of something like this all the papers did lay down pretty hard yes they did the last straw i give up no helen don't say that why not i've done everything i've i've been patient i've tried to understand i love george you know that dad i'd do anything to help him but he won't even try why should he feel so sorry for himself jimmy was my baby too and george isn't in this wheelchair please helen i can't go on like this but there's no answer to his problem no one can help him you're wrong helen god can help him then why doesn't he because george must take the first step god waits for us to open the door but george has always been a proud self-sufficient man it's difficult for anyone like him to admit that he can't help himself perhaps if george had been injured in the accident it might be easier for him as it is he has no mercy on himself expects none from anyone else you see helen only the merciful obtained mercy it's like forgiveness we are forgiven as we forgive remember forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us but it's hard to take that first step especially for a man like george that's all right dear maybe the tears will help isn't bad what is it then ellen it's sometimes i i've even wished that he were in this chair i know it's wrong it's awful but i can't help myself what am i to do what can i do god will help you too helen i wish you would but how remember we are forgiven as we forgive we are forgiven as we forgive i guess i never understood [Music] [Applause] me [Music] uh [Music] [Music] hey [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] so [Music] sometimes others can understand our needs and we can't fully understand ourselves [Music] [Music] you can't change the past and you can't run away from yourself either god is by your side whether you think so or not [Music] [Music] so [Music] [Music] dear god forgive me for hating george because of the accident [Music] help me to show him that i love him and help him to accept your forgiveness and mine oh george forgive me for what i've done to us deep down i i've always blamed you i i never forgave you but help me george i need you forgive you oh god forgive me [Music] yes george finally learned to forgive himself by accepting the forgiveness of those he loved and of god his family his minister with some help from me combined to give him a fuller life and a greater understanding than he had ever known even before the accident there are many who like george lead a life of torment because of a sense of guilt and pride but all the resources of modern psychology and the healing ministry of christian love are available to those whose hearts are sick and whose spirits are broken [Music] so [Music] so [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] you