I was so surprised – I had no idea there was newsreal film footage of Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan as well as Polly Thomson, Helen’s assistant after Anne’s death. They had a lot of correspondence and travelled. Famous and sought-after… But yes it was an AMAZING story – one we should remember as both what can be achieved with love and to remember we count our blessings for.

There is a YouTube channel of these videos, including one that is the only known (or last known) of Anne speaking in the 1930s about helping and teaching Helen, blind and deaf since an illness at age 19 months. I remember the stark scenes from “The Miracle Worker” movie – of teaching this wayward child. You would never know that from the newsreels of elderly Helen – all smiles – working so hard – doing so much. It took teaching – it took intervention – it took perseverance – and mostly it took LOVE.

The great nugget of information that the one video stated, was that Helen (as we see in the 1954 news film) started and ended the day with scripture. One of her quotes was essentially: I am not blind as much as the world is blind. And as the video quoted Psalm 19 – isn’t that the truth? We must not be blind to the HOPE of the Lord. “With the Bible.” – in the transcript: “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmaments show us his handy work. Day unto day affirm his speech, and night unto night show his knowledge. There is no speech, no language where their voice is not heard.”

The movies on that YouTube channel spoke of people Helen was indebted to, Louis Braille, Alexander Graham Bell, and countless others who brought innovations and schools. Imagine everyone who works hard and serves. It is us knowing – without the seeing – the work of their hands and feet and everything else to serve the Lord by loving His people.  And God accomplishes SO MUCH in LOVE. This knowledge is also from HIM – not from us.

Encouragement – to keep going – keep trying – and to praise the Lord for the accomplishments that He allows us to see and feel.

Amen

Psalm 19 NIV

For the director of music. A psalm of David.
The heavens declare the glory of God;
    the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
    night after night they reveal knowledge.
They have no speech, they use no words;
    no sound is heard from them.
Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
    their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
    It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
    like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
It rises at one end of the heavens
    and makes its circuit to the other;
    nothing is deprived of its warmth.

The law of the Lord is perfect,
    refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
    making wise the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right,
    giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
    giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is pure,
    enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm,
    and all of them are righteous.

They are more precious than gold,
    than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
    than honey from the honeycomb.
By them your servant is warned;
    in keeping them there is great reward.
But who can discern their own errors?
    Forgive my hidden faults.
Keep your servant also from willful sins;
    may they not rule over me.
Then I will be blameless,
    innocent of great transgression.

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
    be pleasing in your sight,
    Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.