The song, “Yesterday,” was one of the most popular songs for many years, but we seldom hear it anymore. There were parts of it that were very meaningful and which made one contemplate life and lost youth. I have always had a difficult time hearing the lyrics while a song is being sung. Even though I have enjoyed the sound of it, I would just catch a word here and there. When I thought the words were worth looking up I have done so only to soon forget them. However, as an old man “yesterdays” are on my mind more than ever before. Why? Because ‘yesterday all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they’re here to stay.’ And ‘yes, I believe in yesterday.’ I believe it is important to describe one’s ‘yesterday’ for future generations. They have a right to know what my youth and life was like. They have a right to know what your life and youth was like, too. There may even be lessons they can learn and life experiences that they may avoid; lessons that may save them heartache as well as headache. ‘Suddenly, I realize, I’m not half the man I used to be’ though I am not looking for ‘a place to hide.’ The song went on, see the lyrics below:
Yesterday
Yesterday all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they’re here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday.
Suddenly I’m not half the man I used to be. There’s a shadow hanging over me. Oh, yesterday came suddenly. Oh, I believe in yesterday.
—John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Will Rogers said, “Don’t let ‘yesterday’ take up too much of today.” We can’t, nor should we spend too much time on ‘yesterday’ but we need to spend enough time with our yesterday to make sure it is not lost to our children. I have a monthly date with my loving daughter and as we were on our date the other night, she expressed her concern for her mom and dad because there are many evidences of our getting older and more feeble. Tears came to her eyes as she said, “I’ll miss both of you so much” I reminded her that our histories have been written and that she can read and be reminded of our rich and wonderful family life together. That any time she feels she misses us she can review our lives and then happy memories will flood her mind and smiles will replace the tears.
Elder Bednar reminded us that “When you cannot do what you use to do (yesterday)—you only do what matters most.” What matters most to us now, is finding and recording as many of our ancestral family names as we can before we go to the other side.” Write of your yesterdays, while you can still do it, include those you leave behind, so that they will know that you cared about their future as you reviewed your past…the family’s ‘yesterdays.’