Claim. Parental love shows true goodness by protecting the beloved even at the cost of one’s own life.
Elaboration. SMM recalls mother birds attacking him when he approached their nests, taking this as evidence of an instinct that “transcend[s] their own lives to protect their offspring” (CSG 4.8 §5, 186-15, 1989.1.14). He then generalizes: truly good people establish love as their root and protect loved ones at life’s cost. A Danbury prison example repeats the point through a water bird that changed approaches daily to guard its young; SMM attributes this to “the power of the universe” centered on God’s love (136-23, 1985.12.20). True love is not calculated gain. Like a bee that will not release nectar even if torn apart, parental heart willingly goes the way of death for love.
See also. true-love