Teddy (A "must read")

[eensor]

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.

[eensor]

I have just read that this is an urban legend--not true---but I like it anyway!

[lily's mom]

Wow, that is really powerful. I hope it is true and not an urban legend. Thanks for sharing!

[wollfy]

Thats a beautiful story. Thanks for sharing.

[LIL MIS' MAGIC]

Thank you for that heart warming story...it is so true that one small guesture can make a huge difference is someone's life...my mom works in a school and years ago, she once helped a little girls out who couldn't get her locker open, everyday she would try and everyday people would make fun of her for not knowing how, but my mom stood up one day and helped that girl to understand how to use the combination....that little girl just graduated high school this year and we saw the other day and she gave my mom the biggest hug and told her thanks for helping her to have confidence in herself....I was so proud of my mom that day...she had helped to great a stronger person but doing something so small!!!