Throughout My Life ...

"It's too bad war gets all the attention;

it's too bad the plant is easier to see

than the root."

Cameron Conaway

Throughout my life, I have worked with families and children with multiple burdens.  On the surface, they appeared to be forlorn, misguided, and limited in both resources and education.  It would have been easy to judge them based on the deplorable living spaces.  The personal story of their upbringing or challenges in life brought new found understanding and compassion.

Throughout my life, I have had relationships with families and children who had great wealth, but also had a multitude of problems.  Once the back story surfaces on the emotional neglect, abuse, and dehumanization, judgment gave way to gentle kindness.

Throughout my life, I have noticed too often the focus is on behavior itself without seeking the origin causing the abnormal.  To resolve random acts. we all must begin to recognize and understand the pain of each other.  Resources are needed for the physically threatened child, the emotionally abused teen, and the angry adult.