My salute to two American ladies

 
  Those days my heart are greatly touched by two inspirational ladies that has lived on the earth. One of them already passed away, another one still be with us. Whenever I am in the downturn of my life, feel stressed, or simply lose interest in the boring daily life, their spirit lighten up my day. My energy always regained when I think of them.

  One of the great spirits is Helen Keller. After I read the book by her: Story of my life, I was greatly touched. It is hard to believe that book was written by a blind, deaf and numb person! Even most of the perfectly healthy people cannot write stuff like her. The book is so beautifully described and touching. Especially when she talks about the beautiful nature around her. People with full eyesight cannot write as good as her. That is why she said, those people with eyes cannot really see. It is awkward for most of us, however, it is true in some deeply degree.

  From this book, I also feel her passion about life. Even though she lost her sight and hearing since 2, she did not give up her curiosity and love with this world. Here I have to mention about her teacher and life time friend as well: Anne Sullivan, another miracle lady who helped Helen get out of her dark world, bring wisdom to her and helped her achieve many things that unimaginable to blind person. God is righteous with Helen: he shuts down one door with her, but opened another. It is He who bring Anne to her. He also gave her a special sense of learning that makes her learn things really fast. And through Helen, people have a new aspect with blind person: they are not unteachable, acutally they can do things better than normal person in many aspects! Most important of all, through Helen's hard work, a lot of charity funds were established to help the blind person around the globe. It is those fund that helped many blind person to learn and are no longer called Idiots.

  Helen is misfortune in our eyes, but she is greatly blessed as well. Her achievements make her earned so much reputation among the nations. But for me, she is a strong-minded and tough lady that won't be defeated easily with life's hard strike. She is my hero and should be the hero for many people as well!


(Helen Keller, 8 years old with her teacher Anne Sullivan, photographed in 1888)

  Another great lady I want to mention is the woman with only half body: RoseMarie (Rose) Siggins. She has deformed legs when she was in her mother's womb. But thanks to her loving mom, she was not terminated before she had a chance to take a look at this world. When she was 2, doctor have her legs amputated because it was the best solution to keep her alive. She lives with a tiny upper body ever since.

  When Rose's mom still alive, she led a relatively normal life. She had the passion with auto vehicles. So I guess she found a job as car technician. She fell in love with a pretty normal guy and got married. After she got pregnant, she risked her life to have her first son: Luke. Thanks to God Luke is a healthy and handsome boy! After given birth, the first thing Rosie did is to count his 10 tiny toes, not even one was missing!

  Tragically, Rose's mom died of cancer soon. Now Rose has to take care of her troubled family, besides her husband and little son: her father with serious Alzheimer's disease and her brother is mentally handicapped. Rose's mom usually the person that hold her family together and organize the day-to-day running of life. So It is very hard to imagine how is her daily life could be! When I saw her drag her half body into the kitchen, and try to cook her big family some dinner, my eyes get wet!

  Even for normal person like us, her family issues is overwhelming! But Rose made it through somehow. Despite all the hardships in her own life and her family, she gave birth to her second baby 3 years ago (she almost died because of it). Praise the Lord, It is a beautiful and perfect baby girl!

  Rose said something that I always cannot forget: " A lot of people with disabilities feel that life owes them something, and I was raised in a way that no, no-one owes you a dime. The world doesn't owe you anything, this is what you have and you use your resources and you get through life. My personal opinion is, get up and go for it, just do it."

  Like her name, Rose is a true blossoming rose, beautiful and with strong life will. I wish God can continue to give blessings to her and her family. Because God is a loving God. Like Bible said: He will not break a bruised reed or quench a smoldering wick. (Matthew: 12-20) ( 壓傷的蘆葦他不折斷， 將殘的燈火他不吹滅 )。 Praise the Lord!


Rose Siggins

http://www.granangular.net/aff_rech.asp?mode=data&ths=rgp&id=1492
(picture links for Rose, her husband and kids)