The immense value of thinking of others first

As a pastor, he was no doubt partly inspired by the biblical story of the Good Samaritan. But we suspect that Reverend Professor Dr Randolph Henry may well have heard occasionally from well-meaning people that he acted recklessly when he stopped on Red Hills Road, St Andrew, late at night in 2019 to help keep a gunshot victim alive until the police came.

It was after 11pm and the man was lying on the side of the road, in what Jamaicans know to be one of the most crime-prone cities on the planet.

Many of us would have done what Dr. Henry did and immediately called the police.

However, we believe we speak the truth in saying that few would have gone further to actually stop and care for the injured man, striving to keep him alert until law enforcement arrived 30 minutes later.

Our reporter tells us that, according to Dr. Henry, concern for his own safety was not in his thoughts at that time. This is due to his belief in God and the fact that he is “trying to help someone.”

Crucially, Dr Henry is reported to have said: “I couldn’t just go home (and leave the injured man there alone), that would be on my conscience…”

And what about 35-year-old Castleton, St Mary resident, Mrs Tamara Ivy, who rescued a three-year-old boy who was in danger of being swept away by the waters of the Castleton River?

“…When I entered my house, I saw the little baby being taken down the river, so I ran to save him,” says Mrs. Ivy.

Fortunately, she resisted the current, seemingly fashionable trend that could have led her to grab a smartphone and rush to take moving photos of yet another tragedy for instant circulation on the global stage.

We were told that the idea that she would gain national recognition for saving the child’s life never crossed her mind.

Mrs. Ivy and Dr. Henry are among those who think of others before themselves.

These two are part of a large group of noble Jamaicans who are officially honored today, National Heroes Day, for their service to their neighbors, community and country.

However, as we should all know, many people are unsung heroes – very comfortable in anonymity. They will not be honored in person today and most likely will never be honored on an official level.

Consider our educators who dedicate their entire lives to children — like Burnt Savannah, St Elizabeth resident Mrs Eileen Braham, now 73, who, still very young and untrained, in 1969, began teaching children of preschooler to read and write.

Today, his humble elementary school — once housed on his mother’s porch and later in a vacant grocery store — has evolved into the state-recognized Burnt Savannah Early Childhood Institution, fully staffed and with a population of 86 children.

Asked if she is thinking about retiring, Braham said: “As long as I am available and can travel, I will try to help young children, because they are the future…”

This is the stuff our heroic nation builders are made of. Our country would be a much better country to live, work and raise families if more of us could find it within ourselves to put others first.