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 is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest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 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
> > > > > 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 those of you who don't know, Teddy
> > > > >
> > > > > Stoddard is the Dr. at Iowa Methodist in Des
> > > > >
> > > > > Moines that has the Stoddard Cancer Wing.)
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > 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 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
> > > > > 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 those of you who don't know, Teddy
> > > > >
> > > > > Stoddard is the Dr. at Iowa Methodist in Des
> > > > >
> > > > > Moines that has the Stoddard Cancer Wing.)
> > > > >
