January 03, 2007

A forwarded touching story to share with everybody...

Please read it through with patience. :)

As she stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first day of school, she told the children an untruth. Like most teachers, she looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same. However, that was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard.

Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he did not play well with the other children, that his clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath. In addition, Teddy could be unpleasant. It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then putting a big "F" at the top of his papers.

At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review each child's past records and she put Teddy's off until last. However,when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise.

Teddy's first grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners... he is a joy to be around."

His second grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is an excellent student, well liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle."

His third grade teacher wrote, "His mother's death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best, but his father doesn't show much interest, and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken."

Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and he sometimes sleeps in class."

By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except forTeddy's. His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper that he got from a grocery bag. Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing, and a bottle that was one-quarter full of perfume. But she stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist. Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day just long enough to say, "Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom used to."

After the children left, she cried for at least an hour. On that very day, she quit teaching reading, writing and arithmetic. Instead, she began to teach children. Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention toTeddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year,Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class and,despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy became one of her "teacher's pets.."

A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling her that she was the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.

Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had in life.

Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been tough at times, he'd stayed in school, had stuck withit, and would soon graduate from college with the highest of honours. He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and favorite teacher he had ever had in his whole life.

Then four more years passed and yet another letter came. This time he explained that after he got his bachelor's degree, he decided to go a little further. The letter explained that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had. But now his name was a little longer....The letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, MD.

The story does not end there. You see, there was yet another letter that spring. Teddy said he had met this girl and was go ing to be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit at the wedding in the place that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom. Of course, Mrs. Thompson did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones missing. Moreover, she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on their last Christmas together.


They hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson's ear, "Thank you Mrs. Thompson for believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference."

Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back. She said,"Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn't know how to teach until I met you."

(For you that don't know, Teddy Stoddard is the Dr. at Iowa Methodistin Des Moines that has the Stoddard Cancer Wing.)

Warm someone's heart today. . . pass this along. I love this story very much, I cry every time I read it. Just try to make a difference in someone's life today? tomorrow? just "do it."Random acts of kindness, I think they call it!"Believe in Angels, then return the favor."
~from some forwarded email

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have seen this before.....and it is really heart-stirring.

Irene said...

Great!
And did you feel the same way after you read it the second time?

Irene said...

BTW, you may share it with us the next time you read a good article.^_^

Anonymous said...

Its really a touching story! I like Mrs.Thompson~~She is a great teacher~~I think teachers have to do like she did~~She is the one who can help student stand out of the dark~~Just like Irene you!!^^She remind me about my teacher in third grade~~I love every teacher in my life~~They are all like Mrs.Thompson!BTW i like these "Touching Stories~~These touching stories remind us about the love and careness we forgot in our daily lives~~Great~~

Anonymous said...

It really was an impressive story.
I think that Mrs. Thompson is a greatful teacher when she put the incomplete rhinestone bracelet on. I was touched by such an affecting act, maybe by that time it surely touched Teddy, too, still less she had put the perfume on!!
And if I were Mrs. Thompson I probably felt comfy and also felt proud, with such considaration and achievement!!
It reminded me to send my ins and outs to my first English teacher who taught me how to pronounce.
HAHA~!

Irene said...

You girls are so lucky to have met so many good teachers, and I think your teachers must be very proud of you, for I am! Keep up your good work, girls!

P.S. Zenobia, do you mean Thompson is a "grateful" teacher when she put the bracelet on? :)

Anonymous said...

i think we can't treat everythings only on surface..and when Mrs. Thompson relized the real situation of Teddy and turned in to pay more care and love to him ..it is the main reason of me to regard Mrs. Thompson as a greatful teacher...it's a moving story absolutely....and Irene you are also a good teacher ..^^

Irene said...

Glad you read it through. :)
Well, I think most of us would ignore Teddy. Only with a tender heart like Mrs. Thompson has would love be revealed. Let's work together to make this world better.^_^

P.S. Thanks for your compliment!:)