Ethics of the Fathers Day 8

One of my favorites, from Chapter 2:

In a place where there are no men, strive to be a man.

Yesterday's verse instructed us on seeking the best possible examples to follow.  However, even if there are no examples, we should strive for the highest ideal even if we are the only ones.

No one has inquired about Nicky Z in all of his three and a half years.  Who will "be a man"?



And here is Wyatt.  With one of those really scary diagnoses.  Hydrocephalus.  Possible Cystic Fibrosis.  Tube fed, recumbent, barely moves his hands.




 He does not look hydrocephalic.  Does he have a shunt in place?  If he has CF, then he has already beaten the odds for survival without treatment.  According to Wikipedia,

"While there are no cures for cystic fibrosis there are several treatment methods. The management of cystic fibrosis has improved significantly over the past 70 years. While infants born with cystic fibrosis 70 years ago would have been unlikely to live beyond their first year, infants today are likely to live well into adulthood. Recent advances in the treatment of cystic fibrosis have meant that an individual with cystic fibrosis can live a fuller life less encumbered by their condition. The cornerstones of management are proactive treatment of airway infection, and encouragement of good nutrition and an active lifestyle."

The medical care for CF in the orphanage is probably on par with that of 70 years ago:  negligible.  Note that the management requires prophylactic antibiotics, good nutrition, and an active lifestyle, none of which are available to Wyatt where he is.  If in fact he has CF, he needs out FAST!   More likely, he is just showing the product of extreme neglect and malnutrition of the institutionalized setting, where his Down syndrome is tantamount to a life sentence.

Who will "be a man" and rescue these boys from the "place where there are no men"?

What would you do if you weren't afraid?

This was originally in the book "Who moved my cheese?"  Ever since we met, my sweet husband introduced me to the concept of "What would you do if you weren't afraid?" As a tool for figuring out if those fears are legitimate showstoppers or merely cold feet.

Susanna Musser has written a timely post (beautiful as always) on this subject.


See this, too.

Ethics of the Fathers Day 7

Today we look to chapter 4:

Be a tail to lions, rather than a head to foxes.

In other words, better to be the last to follow the example of heroes, than to be a leader among scoundrels.

Today I'm praying for a worthy tail to the lions who have been rescuing the victims of Pleven, who will step forward for Beacan:

 


as well as a tail for the lions who have been claiming the older orphans from Orphanage 39, to claim Marcus:




Read his full story here.

Count Ruben's kindergarten class

Last week the little boy I call Count Ruben turned 5:



Well, 5 year olds really ought to be getting ready for kindergarten (not a mental institution) so I thought I'd put together the Reeces's Rainbow kindergarten class of 2012-13. First, the boys:

Including Count Ruben, that's 33 boys with Down syndrome who should be starting Kindergarten in September. Instead, some of them are already rapidly declining at mental institutions which would fail inspection as animal shelters in the USA.

Ethics of the Fathers Day 6

A few lines after yesterday's entry, I found the following little phrase, which in Aramaic I had glossed right over:

לפום צערא אגרא

But the translation caught my eye:

"According to the pain is the gain."


Hah! Take that, Coach! So THAT'S where "No pain, no gain" is reaaly from!

Ethics of the Fathers Day 5

Thinking about fear led me to chapter 5:

Judah the son of Teima would say: Be bold as a leopard, light as an eagle, fleeting as a deer and mighty as a lion to do the will of your Father in Heaven.

Beginning with boldness, continuing with lightness and speed, we finally become mighty - to do the will of G*d!

Fear, redux

We were sitting on a bench at a playground this morning, while our 3.5 year old and 2 year old boys were running around. The older one was trying to climb down a ladder, but was facing out rather than turning over on his tummy. Daniel said, "It would be easier to do if he turned over, but it's scary. Dangling your feet and not knowing if the next rung will be there. Almost like a leap of faith."

Yes, it is.