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I know this is an old one, but you can have a little cry too....

> > >> Subject: One of the best stories I've ever heard!

> > >> 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.."

> > >> 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 for
> > >>Teddy'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 to Teddy.
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.
end there. You see, there was yet another letter
> > >>that spring. Teddy said he had met this girl and was going 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
Methodist
in Des Moines that has the Stoddard Cancer Wing)

Warm someone's heart today. . . pass this along. I love this story
> so
> > >>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 kindness.