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"How do you account for your remarkable
accomplishment in life?" Queen Victoria of England
asked Helen Keller. "How do you explain the fact
that even though you were both blind and deaf, you
were able to accomplish so much?"
Ms. Keller's answer is a tribute to her dedicated
teacher. "If it had not been for Anne Sullivan, the
name of Helen Keller would have remained unknown."
Speaker Zig Ziglar tells about "Little Annie"
Sullivan, as she was called when she was young.
Little Annie was no stranger to hardship. She was
almost sightless herself (due to a childhood fever)
and was, at one time, diagnosed as hopelessly
"insane" by her caregivers. She was locked in the
basement of a mental institution outside of Boston.
On occasion, Little Annie would violently attack
anyone who came near. Most of the time she generally
ignored everyone in her presence.
An elderly nurse believed there
was hope, however, and she made it her mission to
show love to the child. Every day she visited Little
Annie. For the most part, the child did not
acknowledge the nurse's presence, but she still
continued to visit. The kindly woman left cookies
for her and spoke words of love and encouragement.
She believed Little Annie could recover, if only she
were shown love.
Eventually, doctors noticed a change in the girl.
Where they once witnessed anger and hostility, they
now noted an emerging gentleness and love. They
moved her upstairs where she continued to improve.
Then the day finally came when this seemingly
"hopeless" child was released.
Anne Sullivan grew into a young woman with a desire
to help others as she, herself, was helped by the
loving nurse. It was she who saw the great potential
in Helen Keller. She loved her, disciplined her,
played with her, pushed her, and worked with her
until the flickering candle that was her life became
a beacon of light to the world. Anne Sullivan worked
wonders in Helen’s life, but it was a loving nurse
who first believed in Little Annie and lovingly
transformed an uncommunicative child into a
compassionate teacher.
"If it had not been for Anne Sullivan, the name of
Helen Keller would have remained unknown." But if it
had not been for a kind and dedicated nurse, the
name of Anne Sullivan would have remained unknown.
And so it goes. Just how far back does the chain of
redemption extend? And how for forward will it lead?
Those you have sought to reach, whether they be in
your family or elsewhere, are part of a chain of
love that can extend through the generations. Your
influence on their lives, whether or not you see
results, is immeasurable. Your legacy of dedicated
kindness and caring can transform lost and hopeless
lives for years to come.
You can never overestimate the power of your love.
It is a fire that, once lit, may burn forever
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