A Story Worth Your Time
Charles W. Pourciau (pourciau@EARTHLINK.NET)
Thu, 5 Mar 1998 09:09:22 -0600
A friend sent this to me this morning. It's worth sharing with EVERYONE. May
God bless all the Jean Thompsons in the world.
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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 delay 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Teddy's fourth-grade teacher had commented, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't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 like 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 fact in your venture
through life.
--Redick Gregory
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City |
