Do you love your children? For most of us the answer is Yes.
Do you sometimes make them do things that are unpleasant – or even painful – for their own good?
Again the answer is Yes and we do this because we love them, don’t we?
All the doctor and dentist appointments. The homework and discipline and training in the face of reluctance and protest. But parents suck it up because they know it is for the future well-being of their child.
My niece had very serious scoliosis and had two extremely painful surgeries when she was just 13. I am happy to say that they were fantastically successful surgeries but there were no guarantees beforehand and they did involve a lot of pain and suffering for her whole family – and especially for her.
What would you do to prevent your child being ostracized, cut off or rejected? If she might be condemned to never being respectable. Never finding a husband. Never having a family of her own. You’d do a lot – most of us would – even if it was a risky and painful road, we’d be frightened not to take it.
It takes immense courage to stay with what you know to be true in the face of social pressure and tradition. What if you are wrong? It’s a scary place to be.
We can’t always trust our gut. Our gut will tell us to fit in and do whatever the herd does because there’s ‘safety’ that way. The people in this video are showing magnificent courage. Their capacity to hold fast and stay with the truth even while they recognise the pressure around them is inspiring.
I am in awe.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcX32btTU48&w=420&h=315]
Oh man, I feel for your niece. At 45, I am now in constant pain. I am so glad they were successful. I know they do them differently than they used to. I DO HOPE, yes, do not want to see her suffer, that she does not EVER have to go through the pain that I have to endure now as the result of the surgery. ACK! Oh, give her big hugs. Tell her someone else understands. ♥
I am so sorry for you that you are in pain even after surgery – that’s awful. I hope it will improve but I know it’s very difficult to be in that kind of chronic pain.
Thank you very much. On the bright side, if I wasn’t in this much pain, I wouldn’t be sitting here blogging getting to know wonderful people and increasing my own awareness and understanding of the world. 🙂
I am so glad this is the first thing I read this morning. I was feeling particularly hopeless this morning and this lifted me up. Thank you for posting.
Such a lovely thing to say – thanks – I’m glad you enjoyed it.
I appreciate that you’ve included a word or two about herd mentality. Only when humans begin to take notice of the ways in which we respond in a group setting, as opposed to the ways in which we respond in a personal manner, will the species stand a chance of survival AND positive evolutionary growth. As always, another wonderful, compelling post. Thank you.
Thanks so much – totally agree about the herd mentality and glad you enjoyed it.
We have so very much to be thankful for within our so call civilised world and I am so thankful that this community saw the practice of FGC harmful and wrong.. This is showing again the Power of collective thought and how when people start to live in Unity with one another and Care about one another as they lead their lives in a positive way.. They then spread that message out, like a ripple effect.. Let the Light Spread… and Lets all hope we can in the future pull together to right the wrongs of this world and Make a Difference and Change the world to be one where we can all rest assured that our Children and Grandchildren will grow up in Safety and Peace..
Wonderful Post..
~Sue
They are brave and insightful people.
What a beautiful video – effecting change one village at a time. I wanted to weep at first, but at the end seeing those beautiful young girls, I was heartened to think that many of them will be spared. Thank for sharing this.
You are welcome and I agree it is actually very uplifting. Such courage is awe-inspiring.
Oh, I am praying so hard right now to hold fast and stick with the truth today and tomorrow and on and on! Bless you for this wonderfully emplowering message!
I love reading your blog and many others but as the posts have grown in my box, it has become harder to comment and empty out. I have 3500 emails and I realized a read and like will help clear things out and then I can start afresh. TY!
Elizabeth! Elizabeth! That’s too hard – don’t read mine, I don’t mind, I promise!
Oh that would be treason to skip your blog! I mind! 🙂