Helen Keller and Parenting

Today we watched The Miracle Worker, The Story of Helen Keller. (There is a song and a parody that both make reference to Helen and after explaining her condition to the kids they just had question after question about her life) I am so thankful that I took the time to look it up and let them watch the story.

Annie Sullivan was just amazing in her dedication to help Helen. She was steadfast and consistent. (Things I am not when it comes to parenting)

So many times during the movie I thought about how we as parents can do harm out of "love".

 And before we get started here let me be loud and clear:  THIS IS NOT AN "OH WOE IS US, WE PARENT SO BAD HOW CAN WE EVER EXPECT OUR BABIES TO LOVE THE LORD WHEN WE SUCK SO BAD AT IT" kind of article.

This is a guilt free zone. All of our mistakes and mess ups are nailed to the cross of Christ if we belong to Him. He has lived the life that we cannot and He has paid the price we deserve. We repent and put our trust in Christ and we are forgiven for all of it.  If this is not true in your life then yep, feel the guilt and the pain of sin, failures and faults and let it drive you to the Savior. (email if you need to)

Now, the part of the story that struck me the most was how adamant Annie was that she needed to be alone with Helen to help her. As long as Helen had her parents to run behind for "protection" she would never trust Annie and do as she was shown. How many times do we let one of our kids hide behind something to cover what is really wrong? Do we excuse their sin by calling it something its not? Do we pretend they are fine when they obviously have a problem?  For me personally, I can say YES! I started making excuses for them right from the start of their lives :) 

Annie flat out had to tell the parents: "your love and pity for her will be her downfall". I thought about how much easier it is for a preschool worker to teach a class of kids than it is for them to teach their own. (talking about me here!!!) That "love" and "pity" is just not going to be as strong for someone else's child. And when that is removed it is much easier to be firm when the child is unhappy with the teaching process.  

It reminds me to go to scripture to define love.....love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13) 

Love DOES NOT REJOICE IN SIN.  Love does NOT cover sin for our children by excusing it and calling it by another name.  (she slapped you in the face and told her daddy no bc she is...pick one....tired, hungry, shy, teething, hormones...whatever.....things that could be true but can be used as excuses to cover sinful behavior)

I could really relate when the dad came to get Helen after a couple of weeks and upon being told that she wasn't ready, he remarked that she was calm and clean. She was ready. How many times has that just been enough for us? That our kids are calm, clean and quiet. 

Annie was astounded that this man was concerned about his comfort over Helen's needs but if Annie would have had children she would have related. Many times we settle for training instead of teaching. For conforming instead of transforming. We are GLAD when they are outwardly obedient and we stop right there and do not get to the heart of the issue. 

Helen's dad was like most of us. He just wanted a peaceful, quiet house. He didn't care how it got that way as long as it did.  The hard truth of parenting is that it is loud and dirty and time consuming. It takes time and effort to get to the heart of sin vs the outward compliance. 

 If all goes well, when exactly are we pointing them to their need for a Savior? 

Ok, I could go on and on about this movie and the truths presented and the faults laid out so clearly.....but I won't.  If you have nothing else to do I suggest watching the movie. Especially if you have kids but saw the movie BEFORE you had them (when you thought you knew everything! LOL). The kids really loved it and there has been great conversation since. 


PS The most gripping line was when Annie said that all she had manged so far was to tell Helen NO and she wanted to be able to tell her YES.....it was good :)