FIRST CHILD
The first child gets to say
for the rest of her life,
“Well, I was the first child.”
She might be the only or
she might be the first of
four or more - or “No more!”
That first child has advantages
and disadvantages - but only
time will explain this and that.
Time will tell parents about
nature versus nurture - about
God and mystery and history.
Time will tell how all this fits into
the story of our lives - in giving,
in receiving and a lot, lot more.
Time will tell that every child is a gift,
first, last, middle or only - and each of
us gets to name and describe that gift.
© Andy Costello, Reflections 2019