'Help' is a prayer that is always answered.

It's intrusive for grandparents to think they're in charge. It's manipulative. Also, it's self-destructive, since if the parents have to resist you, you won't get your mitts on the kid as often.

I think this is how we are supposed to be in the world-present and in awe.

Novels ought to have hope; at least, American novels ought to have hope. French novels don't need to. We mostly win wars, they lose them. Of course, they did hide more Jews than many other countries, and this is a form of winning.

[S]he believed that the Buddhists were right–that if you want, you will suffer; if you love, you will grieve. (68)

Get to know your characters as well as you can let there be something at stake, and then let the chips fall where they may.

Help, Thanks, Wow: The Three Essential Prayers.