Life Lesson

On January 8th, the life of Christian Green and those of several others, was cut short by a mentally ill man at a small political gathering at a Safeway store in Tucson, Arizona.  Green was born on September 11, 2001.

In a most unselfish act, Christina's parents donated her organs to an anonymous little girl in Boston, Massachusetts.

"Asked whether he and his wife would like to meet the girl who received the organ one day if she were willing, John Green said, "Oh yes, and I'd give her a big hug.""


It's too much to ask of a family who lost their child so publicly and so tragically. Organs must be harvested immediately to be of any use to the recipient, so on the heels of the news of their daughter's death, the question might have come.  I imagine though, that it happened a different way.  Perhaps her parents talked it over and hoped that like a phoenix, a final good could come from their pain.  These parents made a decision that nobody should be asked to make. 


To a nation reeling with the consequences of poor mental health care, struggling to blame, to tighten restrictions when we ought to be looking at root causes, this simple act, the gift of life from death can teach us more than any law, any rhetoric or any penalty imposed on the gunman. 


Nobody would blame them for angry words or public statements.  In fact, many would agree with them. But they chose a peaceful and positive path in the face of a most heinous crime.  Mr. and Mrs. Green humble me and have restored a bit of my faith in humanity and the capacity for human kindness.