I have been reading a book recently titled, "Falling Leaves". It is a memoir of a girl growing up in China during the 1940s and on. It goes through many of the challenges the people in China have faced since the late 1800s, early 1900s, the fighting between the Communists and the Kuomintang, etc. However, the focus is on the experiences this girl had growing up in a family with quite a few children, she being the youngest of her parents, and her mother dies giving birth to this little girl.
She is blamed for the death of her mother, her father remarries and he and his new wife are very cruel to his children. The father and new wife end up having 2 children together, which become the 'favored' children-- those who are doted on, loved, showered with the best of everything, etc. The other children are relegated to live on a separate floor of their home and are given little to eat, are expected to walk long distances to school, and are told they are no good. This young daughter, in particular, seems to draw the most hatred and ill treatment from her father and step-mother. She is not allowed to have school mates over, is seldom allowed to play with others, and lives a terribly lonely life except for an aunt who loves and encourages her. She is beaten and mistreated. Finally her aunt is taken away from her because her parents can't stand to see her receiving love and encouragement from anyone.
Reading this memoir once again reminds me of how blessed I am to have been raised by loving parents who told me they loved me and who encouraged me to strive for anything I was interested in. I didn't always agree with some of the restrictions my father placed on me as I was growing up, but I always knew that these restrictions were a result of how much my father loved me and wanted to protect me from harm.
I watch as our children have grown, married, and are now raising their own families. They are quick to both show and tell their little ones how much they love them. They take them with them everywhere. Their kids know how proud their parents are of them. My children share the passions they have in life with their kids, taking them hiking, camping, target shooting, bike riding, skiing, swimming, etc. Grandpa has been taking them flying with him since they were born. This past year our two oldest grandsons, Van, and Finn were able to come sailing with us on our boat in the Virgin Islands and Grandpa passed his love of sailing to them.
I simply cannot imagine growing up without parents who love you and siblings who support you. Yet I know that many, many children in this world have grown up in tragic circumstances without the privileges I have had. Even in circumstances of extreme poverty or physical challenges, if a child has the love and support of good parents it means everything. I am grateful for a Heavenly Father who is only a prayer away and who loves me more than I can even imagine. His plan is for me to be happy. I am so very blessed.
