I listened to a motivational speaker the other day talking about remembrance, not linked to poppies, but linked to those people who have made a difference in your life. His challenge was to think of one person who had made a real difference and to make the decision to get in touch and thank them for the difference they had made. Quite a challenge really, as there are so many people in our lives that have made a difference. In fact some of them we never even knew!
His talk did lead me to think of those who I would wish to thank personally and those who I have never met. The list is long and varied, from family members to school teachers, from church youth workers to friends and colleagues. But also there is another list of people who although I have never met, have made a difference in my life. This list would contain Jesus Christ, Dr Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandella, Mother Teresa, Mahatma Ghandi and Peter the disciple of Jesus, to name but a few. All are well known names, but there are others as well, many not well known, but they are still significant people to remember.
His talk did lead me to think of those who I would wish to thank personally and those who I have never met. The list is long and varied, from family members to school teachers, from church youth workers to friends and colleagues. But also there is another list of people who although I have never met, have made a difference in my life. This list would contain Jesus Christ, Dr Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandella, Mother Teresa, Mahatma Ghandi and Peter the disciple of Jesus, to name but a few. All are well known names, but there are others as well, many not well known, but they are still significant people to remember.
One of them would be Nicolas Winton probably be a name not known to many, but a man who is remembered today by the many people and their families that he left such an impression on. In 1939 with the German army about to invade Czechoslovakia , Nicolas put into place a plan to enable Jewish children to travel to London. Why? Simply because he realised that the impending German invasion would lead to these children and their families being transported to gas chambers. The task he undertook was immense and time critical, yet in the time available he enabled approximately 670 children to travel to safety.
The thing is that he told no one of his actions when he returned to England, it was only, because his wife found a scrap book in the loft that listed all the children that he had saved, that his actions came to life. She sent the book to Ester Rantzen and her team, who tracked down some of the children he had saved. The result was an emotional reunion through her This is your life programme. Check out the You Tube clip to see the full emotional impact! These people had continued to refer to themselves as Winton's children. His actions saved their lives and he will always be remembered for this.
I wonder who would be on your list and for what you would wish to remember them for?
