Theos-Talk Archives (August 1998 Message tt00273)

Rilke wrote:
>
> Jerry wrote:
>
> >My adopted daughter has absolutely no conscience.
> >She has never, that we know of, felt regret, shame, guilt, or remorse.
> >Her reaction to being caught doing something wrong is anger. She is
> >not a lot of fun to live with, and all the research indicates that she will
> >never develop a conscience at this late state (she is now 13).
>
Kym:
> There were instances where I had to simply pin my sister down on the floor
> and yell in her face repeatedly "I love you.  I love you.  I love you."
> Often, I was met with spittle in my face.  But I continually told her that
> my love for her would not allow me to let her continue to react in a way
> that threatened to hurt her and that her pain really was my pain, too.

It seems you had the courage and magnanimity to confront her the love of your
heart, although she did everything to antagonize you. I cannot help but admiring
you for the way you handled it. It takes a whole lot of commitment to work with
a person like this.

Bjorn