WHO'S THE TEACHER?

Get your kleenex ready for this one!

There is a story many years ago of an elementary teacher. Her name was Mrs. Thompson. And 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. Yet, Teddy could be pleasant.

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 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fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in sc
hool. He doesn't have many friends and 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, that is 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, 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 it along. Never underestimate the power of purpose. Yesterday is
history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That's why it's called the 'Present.'

THE BEST AND MOST BEAUTIFUL THINGS IN THE WORLD CANNOT BE SEEN OR EVEN TOUCHED.
THEY MUST BE FELT WITH THE HEART.
Helen Keller