As she stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first >day of school, she told the children an untruth. Like most teachers, she >looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same. However, >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 did not play well with the other >children, that his clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath. >In addition, 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wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school.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 he 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. 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, 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 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 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 >had 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 does not end there. You see, there was yet another letter >that spring. Teddy said he had 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 at the wedding in the place >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 Moreover, 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." (For you that >don't know, Teddy Stoddard is the Dr. at Iowa Methodist in 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 read it. Just try >to make a difference in someone's life today? tomorrow? just "do it". >Random acts of kindness, I think they call it! "Believe in Angels, then >return the favor" =
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True Story
- Thread starter Brad
- Start date
As she stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first >day of school, she told the children an untruth. Like most teachers, she >looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same. However, >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 did not play well with the other >children, that his clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath. >In addition, 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 he 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. 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, 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 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 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 >had 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 does not end there. You see, there was yet another letter >that spring. Teddy said he had 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 at the wedding in the place >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 Moreover, 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." (For you that >don't know, Teddy Stoddard is the Dr. at Iowa Methodist in 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 read it. Just try >to make a difference in someone's life today? tomorrow? just "do it". >Random acts of kindness, I think they call it! "Believe in Angels, then >return the favor" =
As she stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first >day of school, she told the children an untruth. Like most teachers, she >looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same. However, >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 did not play well with the other >children, that his clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath. >In addition, 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 he 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. 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, 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 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 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 >had 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 does not end there. You see, there was yet another letter >that spring. Teddy said he had 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 at the wedding in the place >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 Moreover, 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." (For you that >don't know, Teddy Stoddard is the Dr. at Iowa Methodist in 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 read it. Just try >to make a difference in someone's life today? tomorrow? just "do it". >Random acts of kindness, I think they call it! "Believe in Angels, then >return the favor" =
kayleesgrandma
New member
I remember reading this once a long time ago. I had forgotten about that. Our hospital (Methodist) is a wonderful hospital. The children's wing is one of the best in the country, and so is the Stoddard wing. Thank you for refreshing my memory. "What a good story, she says as she wipes the tears from her eyes!"
kayleesgrandma
New member
I remember reading this once a long time ago. I had forgotten about that. Our hospital (Methodist) is a wonderful hospital. The children's wing is one of the best in the country, and so is the Stoddard wing. Thank you for refreshing my memory. "What a good story, she says as she wipes the tears from her eyes!"
kayleesgrandma
New member
I remember reading this once a long time ago. I had forgotten about that. Our hospital (Methodist) is a wonderful hospital. The children's wing is one of the best in the country, and so is the Stoddard wing. Thank you for refreshing my memory. "What a good story, she says as she wipes the tears from her eyes!"
princessjdc
New member
That was a very nice story, thanks for sharing
princessjdc
New member
That was a very nice story, thanks for sharing
princessjdc
New member
That was a very nice story, thanks for sharing