As she stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first day ofschool, she told the children an untruth. Like most teachers, she lookedat her students and said that she loved them all the same. However, thatwas impossible, because there in the front row, slumped in his seat, wasa little boy named Teddy StoddardMrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he didnot play well with the other children, that his clothes were messy andthat he constantly needed a bath.. In addition, Teddy could beunpleasant. It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually takedelight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's andthen putting a big 'F' at the top of his papers.At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to revieweach 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 readylaugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners... he is a joy to bearound..' His second grade teacher wrote, 'Teddy is an excellent student, wellliked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has aterminal 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, andhis home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken.' Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, 'Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't showmuch interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and he sometimessleeps in class..' By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed ofherself. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmaspresents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except forTeddy's. His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper thathe got from a grocery bag. Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in themiddle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh whenshe found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing, and abottle that was one-quarter full of perfume. But she stifled thechildren's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was,putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist. TeddyStoddard 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 veryday, she quit teaching reading, writing and arithmetic. Instead, shebegan to teach children. Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention toTeddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive.. The moreshe encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year,Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class and, despiteher lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy became oneof her 'teacher's pets..' A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling herthat 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 wrotethat he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was stillthe best teacher he ever had in life. Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while thingshad been tough at times, he'd stayed in school, had stuck with it, andwould soon graduate from college with the highest of honours. He assuredMrs. Thompson that she was still the best and favourite teacher he hadever had in his whole life. Then four more years passed and yet another letter came.. This time heexplained that after he got his bachelor's degree, he decided to go alittle further. The letter explained that she was still the best andfavourite teacher he ever had.. But now his name was a little longer....The letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, MD. The story does not end there. You see, there was yet another letter that spring. Teddy said he had metthis girl and was going to be married. He explained that his father haddied a couple of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson mightagree to sit at the wedding in the place that was usually reserved forthe 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 Teddyremembered his mother wearing on their last Christmas together. They hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson'sear, 'Thank you Mrs. Thompson for believing in me. Thank you so much formaking 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 couldmake a difference. I didn't know how to teach until I met you.'(For you that don't know, Teddy Stoddard is the Doctor at Iowa Methodistin 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 readit. Just try to make a difference in someone's life today? tomorrow?just 'do it'. Random acts of kindness, I think they call it! Learning is a treasure that follows its owner everywhere.
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