Parenthood greatest influence

As the father of 11 children, perhaps I could offer a contrasting perspective from that provided by the couples choosing to remain childless. I certainly do not question anyone's right to make that choice and will even confess to envying their situation a few times (most often between midnight and 5 a.m.).

There is the easy and obvious rejoinder that those choosing childlessness voluntarily should at least thank their parents for not making the same decision. But the choice to bring children into the world goes beyond a debt you owe the prior generation and pay the next.

The miracle of parenthood is not that adults can create children, but that children can create adults. We all enter this life totally selfish -- spending our first years only taking from others and returning to them no more than an occasional smile (and even that may be just gas). Parenthood can take us to the opposite end of the spectrum. In my observation, the most successful people are those who, as they grow and develop, completely overcome this natural selfishness. Those who enhance and enable others they share this life with, and influence generations unborn, see a larger role than the simple satisfaction of their own desires for pleasure, wealth or professional achievement.

There are a few among us whose unique gifts in the sciences, arts, theology and letters will allow their influence to outlive their years. But for most of us, our greatest opportunity for influence -- for good or ill -- will be our role as a link in the chain of generations. Those who avoid this role may simply be leaving footprints in the melting snow.

John C. King lives in Layton.

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