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.

 

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 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"Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school.

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, 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.

 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 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 the class and, despite her lie that she would love all the

children 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,

second 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. Stollard, 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 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 Teddy 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."

 

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'

Warm someone's heart today...
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