Believing in Each Other

Believing in Each Other
By Steve Stevens

In 1910 DeWitt Wallace developed a new idea for a
magazine. It would consist of a collection of condensed
articles. He put together a proposed sample and sent it
to publishers throughout the country. Nobody seemed
interested. DeWitt was terribly discouraged.

About the same time he met Lila Bell Acheson, the
daughter of a Presbyterian minister.

Before long the two fell in love. Lila believed in
DeWitt's dream. She wouldn't let him give up and
encouraged him to keep trying his wonderful idea for a
magazine. Boosted by her faith in him, DeWitt started
mailing circular letters to potential subscribers.

In October, 1921, Lila married DeWitt. On returning
from their honeymoon, they found a bundle of letters
from interested subscribers. Together they worked on
Volume 1, Number 1, which appeared in February, 1922.
DeWitt Wallace included Lila Bell Acheson as his
co-founder, co-editor, and co-owner. Over the years
their little magazine grew. Now printed in at least
eighteen languages, Reader's Digest is the bestselling
magazine in the entire world.

DeWitt and Lila were more than husband and wife, they
were true friends. They encouraged, supported, and
believed in each other. They worked side by side to
make their dream come true, and in the process they
respected each other. DeWitt once said, "I think Lila
made the Digest possible." I can imagine that Lila
would probably say the same about DeWitt.

Yes, love believes all things. It sticks up for
seemingly impossible dreams, cheering as those dreams
struggle forward and applauding when they finally come
true.

Steve Stephens. Cited on Insight of the Day.
www.insightoftheday.com/