Hi Cheryl,Yes, we are indeed on a treasure hunt and it is all so much FUN! Sharing positive information is the only way to live. :-)
Here is the written version of Teddy Stoddard for YOU! It is a keeper!
Teddy Stoddard (author
unknown)
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 her 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 Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn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 which 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 class and, despite her
lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy became one 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, 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, 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."
Hugs, Jill