Three Letters from Teddy

[WonderWendy3]

Three Letters from Teddy

>~ Elizabeth Silance Ballard (c) 1974

>

>As she stood in front of her 5th grade class

>On the 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 Stallard.

>

>Miss Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he

>Didn't play well with 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 Miss 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 Miss Thompson taught, she

>Was required to review each child's past records,

>And she put Teddy's off until the 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 such 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"Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school.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, Miss 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.

>Miss Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents.

>

>Some of the students 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 Stallard stayed after school that day just long enough to say,

>"Miss Thompson, today you smell 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.

>

>Miss Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy.

>As she worked with him, his mind began 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'd 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.

>He'd stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college with the

>Highest of honors.

>Again he assured Miss Thompson that she was still the best and

>Favorite teacher he'd ever had.

>

>Then four more years passed, and yet another letter came.

>After he got his bachelor's degree he

>Had decided to go a little further.

>She was still the best and favorite teacher he'd ever had.

>But now his name was a little longer...

>The letter was signed "Theodore F. Stallard, M.D."

>

>The story does not end here.

>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 Miss Thompson might agree to sit at the

>Wedding in the place that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom.

>

>Of course, Miss 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. Stallard whispered in Miss Thompson's ear:

>"Thank you for believing in me.

>Thank you so much for making me feel important and

>showing me that I could make a difference."

>

>Miss 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!"

>

>You can never tell what type of impact you may have on another's life

>by your actions ... or lack of action.

>Please consider this fact in your venture through life, and just try

>to make a difference in someone else's life today.

[WonderWendy3]

This brought tears to my eyes...I was a substitute teacher and a Sunday School teacher and always had a big hug for the "Teddy's" in the class!! Thanks to all of you that are Teachers and teach our sweet children:-4