Mother’s love: A lesson in the importance of an attitude of gratitude

OK, today Jensen we’re going to talk about a person who is actually a distant relative of yours??? Keen to know more???? This lady grew up in a world that bred more resilient kids than I think today’s kids are. Let me explain.

Anyone would love someone like Helen in their family. Helen was born into a well to do family, all things were going fine for Helen and her schooling and her beloved horse which she rode to school -  all set to become a teacher like her mother and grandmother and then she was struck down with Scarlet Fever and told she would never walk again. But the impossible was just another challenge for Helen.

After a year in isolation in a dark room at home, Helen got back up, finished her teacher training and became a teacher. Then as women had to do in those days, Helen gave up her career to have children after she married a very righteous God fearing man, named Alex – no Sunday sport or cooking or even reading the paper, Sunday was God’s day.

Helen’s Scarlet fever had left her with a weak heart so housework and spouse-work was hard going especially as they had no car. Just as a matter of interest Jensen, how many pairs of shoes would you have?

Helen didn’t even have enough money to buy shoes for the boys’ feet, but with pure determination she got back into teaching and in fact became the first female casual teacher appointed after the war.

Helen lost her much adored dad to a diabetic stroke early in her married life. Then just as the family was getting back on their feet, Helen’s mother developed senility and in those days, the care of the elderly, regardless of their mental or physical health, fell to the children. Helen’s sister would have nothing to do with this role so Helen took her mum in and saw her through her increasingly difficult final years until she passed away.

All four boys followed in their mother’s footsteps and became teachers and then took up appointments scattered across NSW and in PNG. There was no email in those dim, dark days, and phone calls were very expensive so Helen would write a letter to the boys with one boy getting the original and the other three getting carbon paper copies. The adoration her boys felt towards their mum was shared by the daughters in law so despite the poor financial start and a dogmatic dad, the family stayed united.

As for the boys, knowing they had the unconditional love and support of their mum, each used that solid foundation as a springboard into incredible roles of service in the community. The eldest stayed in teaching, but became head of the Gideon Bible distribution program, the next became an academic then served for many years with UNICEF fiercely and successfully promoting education for girls throughout Asia. The youngest brother became a neuropsychologist and together we set up the READ clinic and I became a child psychologist!

That family was no more special or talented than any other family but all four boys and their partners and their children and their children’s children have all been touched by this unremarkable lady and her attitude of gratitude. Individual members of a family may pass away but what they weave into the souls of those they meet is fabric so strong it lasts well beyond their lifetime. Helen, Jensen and I welcome you to a place of honour in our Humble Heroes Hall of Fame