At a recent presentation about brain research supporting Childhaven's early intervention and therapy, Dr. Bruce Perry, an expert on such things, pointed out that children who get lots of love and attention actually have a physically bigger, better-developed brain. The unloved as we suspected live in a small, cold world, and their brains simply develop to be literally smaller. And their lives develop often into lives of crime. Then in front of an audience of nearly a 1,000 Dr. Perry simply stopped as if he were musing to himself - and said quietly - "but who really gives a ____". The audience gasped, then laughed nervously, then looked shocked as they realized the years of valuable research were not matched by new attention to the most vulnerable among us - the forgotten kids. our community's children are, after all, yours, mine and ours.
So why not get a nice big candle for your friends, give it as a holiday gift, with a note attached, saying a gift has been given in their name to benefit a neglected child. If you want to find out who they are just go to www.childhaven.org.
This holiday when you light a candle, why not do it for a kid to keep hope alive that a better life is coming?
Thank you.