Anne’s Story
Anne was born in 1866. Her parents were Irish immigrants and settled near Boston. When Anne was only 8 years old, her mother died. Anne’s father felt that he couldn’t care for his children, so he sent his daughter and her younger brother to live at a poorhouse. Three months after arriving, Anne’s brother died from the unsanitary conditions.
A Place of Total Loss
Living with hundreds of other people forced Anne to focus on simply existing. There was no learning or personal growth and no plans for a future. Add to this that Anne had an eye disease which caused substantial vision loss meant Anne’s life could have been hopeless, but when she learned of schools for the blind, Anne asked to go to one and was granted permission.
When Anne started school, she couldn’t read or write. Her classmates were from wealthy families and didn’t struggle like Anne, but she worked hard and within two years caught up with her fellow students.
Some people face adversity and thrive. Others encounter that same hardship and struggle with defeat. Anne came from a place of total loss. She lost her mother, brother, home and a father who chose not to care for his children. Working through the adversity was the only hope Anne had.
Determination, Patience and Creativity
Anne ultimately became valedictorian for her graduating class. Not bad for a girl who struggled during some of her most important years. We cannot minimize just how difficult those years were for Anne, but it was those years that were preparing Anne for her life’s work. Because of the challenges she faced and eventually overcame she became a one-of-a-kind person.
You see, Anne became the teacher for an uncontrollable, young blind girl named, Helen Keller. It was Anne Sullivan’s determination, patience and creativity that helped her guide Helen into life. And I will go so far as to say that there is no one else who could have done what Anne did. It was the circumstances of Anne’s life that molded her into the person that Helen needed.
Created to Make a Difference
We go about our lives with our eye’s laser-focused on ourselves and our daily routines and I fear we miss the true meaning of life. Life is not about filling ourselves and building so much ease and comfort that we are not challenged. We were meant to face difficulties because those struggles grow us, refine us, and make us useful in helping others.
You were created to make a difference. Although you may look like the people around you, there is no one like you. You are unique just because of who you are and where you are. There are moments of great need that only you can meet, although there is a good chance you will never know when you meet those needs.
The person that you are is the one that God has spent time creating and shaping. He didn’t make you so that you could look and act like someone else. God created you to meet other people’s needs in His timing. And I will let you in on a little secret. Those needs of God that are so important to Him, are you and your needs. Just as He made you to meet the needs of others, He created others to help meet your needs.
The Circumstances of Your Life
You see, you and I are eternal beings. And of all creations by God and Man, the only things that will last forever are you and I and the rest of our fellow eternal travelers.
This one point is the reason it is so important for you to understand that Jesus Christ loves you and wants you to believe in Him. It is believing that Jesus Christ came to the earth 2000 years ago as a baby in a manger, who died on a cross to save Mankind that will give you an eternal life filled with light, love, joy, peace, mercy, understanding and forgiveness.
Believe in Jesus Christ and never forget that it is the circumstances of your life that fuels the story of your life. And it is the story of your life that others will read and share when you are gone.
References
The story of Anne Sullivan is from HistoryDaily.org. https://historydaily.org/anne-sullivan-facts-stories-trivia