The Only Child - Daily Dose of Wisdom

Why do parents love their children?
Because the lower world reflects the higher world. And above, there is a Parent and He loves His children.

Why do parents of an only child have such unbounded love for their child?
Because this is the truest reflection of the world above: Above, each one of us is an only child, and His love to us is unbounded.

Based on letters and talks of the Rebbe, Rabbi M. M. Schneerson

From the wisdom of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of righteous memory; words and condensation by Rabbi Tzvi Freeman. To order Rabbi Freeman’s book, Bringing Heaven Down to Earth, click here.

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November 21, 2009

Only Child

I was an only child and was very lonely. I always wanted a sister or a brother. Things of this world are not as important as the love parents can give. Mine both worked and I was a latch key kid. When Mom got home from work, she was too stressed to listen to me and I had no one to talk to. It was a very lonely life. but now I had 3 children, grandchildren and a great-grandchild and they don't bother with me so I'm still alone. My parents did the best they could at the time and I am thankful for that.

Anonymous
Port Orange, Florida

November 9, 2009

Only Child

Hi Being an only child and still feeling it when friends talk of sisters and brothers, I thank you for this as it's made my day - Jane

Anonymous
Mission, BC Canada

November 9, 2009

Only Child

I have one child. I love him with all my heart and would sacrifice anything for him. If I had two children of course I would love them both as much as one child.

The meaning to me is that G-D sees us each as an individual and loves us one to one. Not just the nation of Israel, but each single Jew as a single soul connected to him.

But in looking at what I have written I also know that there are children in families who's parents do not love them. Not a only child and sometimes many children. Is that a reflection of the world above? I hope not. I hope that there is a lesson in that too.

Anonymous
Tampa

November 9, 2009

yes indeed Ela

Simply because they have more time to spoil the single & only child & tend to go overboard realising the scarcity & risk of loosing the only one !

mark alcock
Durban, SA

December 13, 2006

Response to Elya

This is actually a statement of Rabbi Dov Ber, the second rebbe of Chabad. The explanation is the Rebbe's, Rabbi M M Schneerson. The previous rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak said he could not understand why this is so, "are there limits to the amount of love a person can contain?" He himself was an only child.

I haven't seen a clinical study.

Tzvi Freeman (Author)

December 13, 2006

Do parents really love an only child more than if they had a few children-- is that love less than the love for an only child?

Ela