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.
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"Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school.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.
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 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. Stoddard, 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 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."
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'
Song of A Carpenter
Once he said, I have to go away
I'll be gone for just awhile.
And though it hurts to leave you now
I leave you with my smile.
Cause the place that I am going to
Is like the memories we shared.
The memories of our love and life...
Remember how I cared.
I lived my life a carpenter
But I did not die in vain.
I left a light to guide you
Through the darkness of your pain.
If you look within your hurting soul
You'll find a flicker that can flame.
And you'll know that I am holding you
When you call out HIS name.
He lived HIS life a Carpenter
A stable held HIS birth.
And in a world of darkness
He came to light the earth.
My Father's house was built for you
It's doors are open wide
But you have to love my Jesus
If you want to come inside.
We're building a new home for you
This Carpenter and I
It's walls are built upon your prayers
And the way you live your life.
Let HIS light grow in you always
Show others HE'S the ONE
Then we'll all be together
You, me, Our Father and HIS Son.
When we're standing here in heaven
Arm and arm, we'll know we've won.
Looking at the house we've built,
We'll hear Him say...Well Done.
Writing on the Wall
A weary mother returned from the store,
lugging groceries through the kitchen door.
Awaiting her arrival was her 8 year old son,
anxious to relate what his younger brother had done.
"While I was out playing and Dad was on a call,
T.J. took his crayons and wrote on the wall!
It's on the new paper you just hung in the den.
I told him you'd be mad at having to do it again."
She let out a moan and furrowed her brow,
"Where is your little brother right now?"
She emptied her arms and with a purposeful stride,
She marched to his closet where he had gone to hide.
She called his full name as she entered his room.
He trembled with fear, he knew that meant doom!
For the next ten minutes, she ranted and raved
about the expensive wallpaper and how she had saved.
Lamenting all the work it would take to repair,
She condemned his actions and total lack of care.
The more she scolded, the madder she got,
Then stomped from his room, totally distraught!
She headed for the den to confirm her fears.
When she saw the wall, her eyes flooded with tears.
The message she read pierced her soul with a dart.
It said, "I love Mommy," surrounded by a heart.
Well, the wallpaper remained, just as she found it,
With an empty picture frame hung to surround it.
A reminder to her, and indeed to all,
Take time to read the handwriting on the wall.
If You Think You Can
When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low, and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As everyone of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out.
Don't give up though the pace seems slow,
You may succeed with another blow.
Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far,
So stick to the fight
when you're hardest hit,
It's when things seem worse,
that you must not quit.
If you think you are beaten, you are;
If you think you dare not, you don't;
If you'd like to win but think you can't,
It's almost a cinch you won't.
If you think you'll lose, you've lost;
For out in the world you'll find
Success begins with a person's will;
It's all in the state of mind.