My 3-year old niece flattened a piece of orange I had peeled for her and laughed uncontrollably. I had to lay down religious guilt quickly and efficiently. I told her God would punish her for stepping on food when millions of kids her age go hungry every day.
I was raised on religious guilt so I was doing my part to pass it along. She gave me a crushed look for a split moment. Then, she moved on. I refilled my guilt dispensing machine; I had to let this young missy know the gravity of what she had done. SpongeBob was far more interesting than my rant and she really had moved on.
I’ve been following the story of Mariam Amin for the past few months and her life’s
devastation seldom leaves my mind. Mariam is 6 and paralyzed from the neck down. An Israeli missile caused her grave injuries and killed her older brother (7), mother and grandmother. She spends her days in a rehab. pool and in the company of her ever present father.
I think of the quality of her life and her father’s own life forever on hold. They are now fighting for the right to stay in a facility in Israel that at best offers a life of dependence and untold complications as she grows. I cannot think of a greater pain for the parents and relatives of a child than a dim future. They must wish that they would have a chance to see Mariam be sassy and full of mischief instead of lying on her back much of her life.
My own niece’s growth and independence remind me of how privileged we are to have her healthy. Mariam is one of millions of children suffering disease and disability for sins that are not their own.
