Helen Keller was born in 1882. She passed away in 1968. When she was 19 months old, she had a fever that took a severe toll on her body. It left her blind and deaf. She was forced to exist in a world of darkness and silence. But she was determined and intelligent. When she was seven years old, her parents got a tutor to help her learn how to communicate, Anne Sullivan.
After making much progress, Anne Sullivan believed it was time for Helen to hear about Jesus Christ. So she called the most famous clergyman of his day, Phillips Brooks, to visit and tell Helen Keller about Jesus. By the way, Phillips Brooks was the composer of the beloved Christmas carol, “O Little Town of Bethlehem.”
He went to visit Helen. He talked to her about Christ, with Anne Sullivan interpreting. Finally, a smile came on Helen's face. She responded through her teacher, "Mr. Brooks, I have always known about God, but until now I didn't know His name."
Helen Keller once said, "For three things I thank God every day of my life. Thanks that He has vouchsafed me knowledge of His works. Deep thanks that He has set in my darkness the light of faith. And the deepest thanks that I have another life to look forward to, a life joyous with light and flowers and heavenly song.” What a life! What a witness!