>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> Her Name Was Mrs. Thompson. >>> >>> As she stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first >>>day >>> >>> of school, she told the children a lie. Like most teachers, she >>> >>> looked at her students and said that she loved them all the >>>same. >>> >>> But 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 didn't >>>play >>> >>> well with the other children, that his clothes were messy and >>>that he constantly needed a bath. And 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 had 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 Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and 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 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, and 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 still 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 his whole 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 >>> >>> with it, and would soon graduate from college with the highest >>>of >>> >>> honors. He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best >>>and >>> >>> favorite teacher he 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 doesn't end there. You see, there was yet another >>>letter >>> >>> that spring. Teddy said he'd 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 in the place >>>at >>> >>> the wedding 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. And 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." >>> >>> >>> >>> Warm someone's heart today . . . pass this along. Please >>> >>> remember that wherever you go, and whatever you do, you will >>>have >>> >>> the opportunity to touch and/or change a person's outlook. >>>Please try >>> >>> to do it in a positive way. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>>GROWING OLD IS MANDATORY...........GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL. >>>>>The only way to have a friend is to be one.