Ayla

One of the most striking scenes experienced during the past ten days occurred on the banks of a man-made lake not far from the city of Jaipur. We were stopped for a photo op overlooking the Lake Palace (no we didn't check in).

Like most other stops along the roadways in India, it didn't take long for someone to show up, trying to peddle something. In this case, we were greeted by a little boy who couldn't have been more than about 7 years old. In his native tongue, he explained to our tour guide that he wanted to wave the scrap of cloth he was holding while showing us some magic tricks. At such a tender age, he had already begun the fine art of begging, of finding ingenious ways of earning money. Was he put up to this by his parents who saw him as a way to earn money? Had he been orphaned or abandoned and needed to earn money in order to eat that day?

Our guide explained that in far too many cases, children who could and should be in school (the cost of education up to the age of 14 is covered by government in India) are instead exploited by their parents, who count on their vulnerability to touch the heart strings of the tourists. Eventually, once these children get a taste for money and see how much they can actually 'earn' from begging and selling trinkets, they themselves become trapped and education is more and more neglected ... to their own peril.

Half way round the world, another miracle was unfolding.

Last Friday, November 13, at 3:19 pm local time in Toronto a little girl was born. Ever since the first news broke that she was on her way, the excitement has been building and finally the day had arrived. Thankfully, everyone (mother, baby and other adoring family members) are just fine.

Ayla Veeda is a beautiful child, who has already brought exceding joy to her parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts. Together we thank God for her safe delivery and will continue to shower her with all the love we can ... and more. Infants and children are innocent and precious. As I first heard the news of her birth, and later as I got a few moments to spend with her, to hold her, to cherish her, the furthest thing from my mind was the image of a child on the banks of a far-off lake, forced to perform magic tricks for money.

Perhaps we are powerless to intervene in the cases of children so far away who fall prey to the vices of their parents and others who neglect the opportunity to educate their children, for whatever reason, but those of us who have the opportunity to influence the lives of children should truly count ourselves among the most highly favored for we are entrusted with the gift of life, which should always be guarded and protected, celebrated and loved, fed and enriched.