Can you hear the music ?? |
|
|
Impact
Jean Thompson stood in front of her fifth-grade class on the
very first day of school in the Fall and told the children a lie. Like
most teachers, she looked at her pupils and said that she loved
each of them the same, that she would treat them all alike. And that
was impossible because there in front of her, slumped in his seat on
the third row, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard.
Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed
he didn't play well with the other children, that his clothes were
unkempt and that he constantly needed a bath. And Teddy was
unpleasant.
It got to the point during the first few months that she would actually
take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold
X's and then highlighting the "F" at the top of the paper biggest of
all.
Because Teddy was a sullen little boy, no one else seemed to
enjoy him, either. At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she
was required to review each child's records and she delayed Teddy's
until last. When she opened his file, she found a surprise.
His first-grade teacher had written, "Teddy is a bright,
inquisitive 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
had penned, "Teddy is an excellent student, well-liked by all 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
had noted, "Teddy continues to work hard but 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 had commented, "Teddy is
withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have
many friends and often falls asleep in class. He is tardy and could
become a more serious problem."
By now Mrs. Thompson realized the extent of the problem, but
Christmas was coming fast. It was all she could do, with the school
play and all, until the day before the holidays began and she was
suddenly forced to focus again on Teddy Stoddard.
Her children brought her presents, all in beautiful ribbon and bright
paper, except Teddy's, which was clumsily wrapped in the
heavy, brown paper of a scissored 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 cologne.
She stifled the children's laughter while she exclaimed how pretty the
bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume behind the
other wrist.
Teddy Stoddard stayed behind after class 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 speaking. Instead, she
began to teach children. Jean Thompson paid particular attention to one
they all called "Teddy." As she worked with him, his mind seemed to
come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded.
On those days when there would be an important test, Mrs. Thompson
would remember that cologne.
By the end of the year he had become one of the highest achieveing
children in the class and, well, he had also somewhat become the "pet"
of that teacher who had once vowed to love all of her children exactly
the same.
A year later she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling her
that of all the teachers he'd had in elementary school, she was his
favorite.
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
his favorite teacher of all time.
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
graduate from college with the highest of honors. He assured Mrs.
Thompson she was still his favorite teacher.
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 his favorite teacher but that
now his name was a little longer. The letter was signed, Theodore F.
Stoddard, M.D.
The story doesn't end there. You see, there was yet another letter that
Spring. Teddy said he'd met this girl and was 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 pew usually reserved for the mother of
the groom.
And on that day, she wore that bracelet, the one with several
rhinestones missing. And on that special day, Jean Thompson smelled just
the way Teddy remembered his mother smelling on their last Christmas
together.
THE MORAL: You never can tell what type of impact you may make on
another's life by your actions or lack of action. Consider this in your
venture through life.
Author : Unknown
Forwarded by : Ron Johnson, Seattle
|
|
