By Norman Fleishman
No commitment, in my experience, matches the dedication a parent can bring to a child. This devotion, requiring effective offering of the support of freedom and discipline to the blush of new life, then sensitively nurturing that life”s initial utter helplessness ? through partial dependence into emerging autonomy and passionate self-expression; finally, hopefully, into an independent radiance, is truly a matchless gift. May we all be empowered to the fullest, in our endeavors!
To read, as I did today (the current Christian Science Monitor), that 800 million newborns in the world, this past year, began life “unintended,” were the product of an accidental pregnancy, cannot fail to raise the question: How prepared can an adult be for lifelong commitment, for initial aiding of that life”s helplessness, then for offering continuing, delicate support for emerging autonomy ? when the pregnancy is accidental?
May they make the best of it! (The same article said half of U.S. pregnancies, last year, were “accidental” as well).
Norman Fleishman
Lakeport
