Questions for Contemplation: the Sheila Foster story

1. Sheila’s forgiveness of her father took years. Have you identified ways in which your parents hurt you or failed you? Sheila claims to have benefited from forgiving her parents. What benefits do you think are possible when one chooses to forgive? What are your obstacles to forgiveness?

2. What do you think is valuable about magic in a child’s life? How have you used “magic” to create a better world for yourself or others?

3. When you read about Sheila’s abuse by a church leader and a priest, what thoughts came to your mind? How can we increase our attentiveness and act on our responsibility to protect and defend children?

4. Have you ever been asked to keep a secret like Sheila’s friend yet felt it should not be kept secret? What did you do?

Resources for Reflection and Action:

Peaceful Parenting Handbook, by Joseph Cress & Burt Berlowe (San Jose, CA: Resource Publications, 2001).

The Seven Habits of Peaceful Parents: A facilitators’ manual, by Joseph Cress & Burt Berlowe, (San Jose, CA: Resource Publications, 2001).

Crimes Against Children: Child abuse and neglect, by Tracee Bekalm (Philadelphia: Chelsea House, 2000).

Healing Words: The power of prayer and the practice of medicine, by Larry Dossey (San Francisco: Harper Collins, 1993).

The Optimistic Child: A revolutionary program that safeguards children against depression and builds lifelong resilience, by Martin E. P. Seligman (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1995).

National Committee for the Prevention of Child Abuse, 332 South Michigan Avenue #1600, Chicago, Illinois 60604-4357. Phone: 312-663-3520.

Stand for Children, 1834 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20009. Phone: 202-234-0095. Learn how to start a Stand for Children event in your community or find out where the nearest chapter for you is located. The organization’s purpose is to educate the public about what constitutes a safe and healthy community, to push forward local, state, and federal initiatives and to assist in making concrete improvements in communities everywhere.