The Moment that Matters

And of course: EVERY moment matters.

Lost in contemplation over the wickedness rampant in our times, moments merge to minutes and hours. It is a seduction, this unbearable relentless media bombardment. I choose not to roll over.

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What could be worse than living in the dread of a terrorist attack?
I think I know. A lovely little woman told me a story this week that made me think about how fortunate, indeed, I am.

It was 1943 and bombs were raining from the skies. She was 40 weeks pregnant and the baby was ready to come. No Doctors were available as an air raid was in progress. The Midwife did all she could but still, it was a rough go. Finally the baby was born. She looked perfect, but something was not quite right.

It turned out that this wee innocent was in the birth canal too long and was oxygen deprived.
The child has a mental handicap, "retarded", they called her.
A few months later the midwife committed suicide.

Here we are in 2005 and the woman lives on happily married over 60 years now.
The daughter lives downstairs, with as great a degree of independance as is possible.

"When we go," said the father, "we have it all set up so this house goes to the girl."
They have every service in place they could get.
God bless 'em.
Someone comes in to cook and clean, someone comes to take the daughter on outings, someone comes to help with every facet of life that is necessary to maintain their independance.

The lovely woman told me so many stories about what it was like taking care of a child with a disability in hard times. She said that for her, after the war during rationing and shortages was worse than during it. She told me that she was terrified to have more children. God smiled on her and she has a very nice son born with no handicaps.

When I left she told me her regret was that her son was an atheist. Seems he had a very bad experience in life that took away his belief in God.
"He tells me: 'Look around mom. What has God done for us?'"
I told her not to worry.
"I think if he can't see God in anything else, he can see it in YOU!"

She hugged me and I left.
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about media---

"The media is like the peculiar uncle you keep in the attic-just one of those unfortunate things."
- G. Gordon Liddy