Today is Nelson Mandela Day.
On this day July 18, 2013, he joined the ancestors. As though the universe compensated for the prison years, he lived to be 95 years.
On this anniversary, I am reflecting more about the price that Nelson Mandelaβs family paid for his greatness. Of course, he paid a great price. 27 years in prison is no joke. Β
Here is an excerpt from his biography by Martin Meredith.
In his speech to the guests, he reflected on the plight of his family: βWe watched our children growing without our guidance and when we did come out [of prison], my children, for example, said, βWe thought we had a father and one day heβd come back. But to our dismay, our father comes back and he leaves us alone almost daily because he has now become the father of the nation.ββ Mandela said he had often pondered on whether the struggle had been worth the loss of a normal family life ...β
Mandela: A Biography by Martin Meredith
Is it worth it? Β
As a father, is it worth it?
As a son/daughter, is it worth it?