The Power of a Small Gesture
 

 

John 6:1-16 is the story of the feeding of the 5000. With a boy’s gift of five barley loaves and two fish, and the blessing of Jesus, 5000 people ate with food left over.

Jesus therefore took the loaves and having given thanks, He distributed to those who were seated, likewise also of the fish as much as they wanted. And when they were filled, He said to His disciples, Gather up the leftover fragments that nothing may be lost. And so they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves, which were left over by those who had eaten. (New American Standard Bible)

 

            Anne Sullivan known as the Miracle Worker who worked wonders with Helen Keller experienced poverty and cruelty as a child. The writings from the Helen Keller Society talk about two defining experiences in this extraordinary woman’s life. At eight years of age, Anne Sullivan encountered the death of her mother, and along with her brother the abandonment of their father who turned them over to a poor house known as Tewksbury Institute. The conditions were deplorable and her brother with whom she was close soon died. Anne, a wild and unruly child, was often caged in an order to control her. Feeling sorry for the child, a maid baked her a cake. From this gesture a friendship developed and the maid was the only person able to calm Anne so the doctors could sufficiently examine her. It was then they discovered she was almost blind which explained her terrible fears and behavior. Later surgery corrected much of her vision.

When Anne was only fourteen years old a commission came to investigate the conditions of Tewksbury. This spunky girl followed them around. Just before their tour ended, she gathered her courage and approached a member of the commission and said she wanted to go to school. It was another moment that changed her life. In October of that year, she entered the Perkins Institute.

Take Away

1.    The cake was the beginning of a new life for Anne.

2.    It must have taken inordinate courage for this child, who couldn’t read or write, to speak to a member of the commission about going to school.

3.    Not understood by the other girls from wealthy families, school was a challenge, but Annie overcame the obstacles and even delivered the Valedictory Address.

4.    Her own bad experiences helped her understand Helen Keller and how to teach her.

Though the cake opened the doors for Anne’s future, I can’t help but wonder if the maid thought: These doctors are educated, who am I to interfere? Could I lose my job over this? I’m too tired to bake a cake. I don’t have enough food much less take what I have to bake something for this unruly person. She’ll be okay. The doctors know what they’re doing.

One Final Thought

            What if the maid had let her doubts and fears stop her? What if she never baked the cake?