THE BEST TEACHER EVER

by **UNEEK** Sat Aug 17, 2013 8:37 pm

The Best Teacher Ever

There’s a story from many years ago of a primary school teacher. Her name was Mrs. Thompson and as she stood in front of her fifth 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 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 he didn’t play well with the other children, his clothes were messy and he constantly needed a bath. Teddy could be quite unpleasant.

It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold Xs 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Teddy’s fourth grade teacher wrote, “Teddy is withdrawn and doesn’t show much interest in school.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 paper and tied with pretty ribbons, except for Teddy’s. His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper 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 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 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 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 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 I could make a difference.. I didn’t know how to teach until I met you.”

Author Unknown

by **UNEEK** Sat Aug 17, 2013 11:24 pm

I would just like to add a few thoughts to the above story - I firmly believe with every fiber within me that we can & DO make an impact / impression on the life of another person - It can be negative and detrimental or it can be wonderful like the one above.

Don't think for one minute that you do not matter or that you could not possibly make a difference. I could tell you countless stories how people have made a difference in my life. I have been put down, walked on, thrown to the curb & under the bus - I have been falsely accused, abused, and told I would never amount to anything. I am still around - I made it through -

I have been appreciated, encouraged, supported, respected, trusted, valued, and loved. Believe you me when you are experiencing the wrath from the above paragraph it sure helps to have someone on your side to help see you through.

I do believe in accountability & responsibility - I do believe that not everyone has sincere unselfish intentions - I do believe in being wise & Kind at the same time - I also believe that we have our own battles / challenges & lessons to learn in order to evolve -

I do believe that everything has a ripple affect and our own choices and decisions create our world of ups & downs with ripples - We can and DO affect the life of others that may be in our ripple effect - just as the choices & decisions of others have an affect on our life if we are in their ripple.

I have come to accept through many painful experiences that I "choose" to be the victim by not learning from and moving forward - I have come to realize that it is all the ripples - all the encounters with many personalities and what they bring to that which causes the ripple and is what most likely is /was necessary to fine tune me and progress the evolving of my spirit --

Those same encounters can and will have some kind of impact and leave some kind of impression on those involved in that ripple - It may be one of more anger & bitterness or hopefully a more enlightened & compassionate one -

Oh yes more than a few times I did attempt to defend myself which at the time I felt was my right - I argued how I was misunderstood, mistreated, what it cost me , yada yada yada - How they were wrong, unfair, and just plain NOT NICE - Did it change anything? Yes -- my perspective eventually, lol Did it change the ones I confronted? No evidence of it happening then - but maybe down the road further out on the ripples --- maybe -- just maybe

I can only be accountable & responsible for MY actions / ripples -- I did my best to handle myself as assertively, intelligently, respectfully, compassionately, justly, honestly and sincerely as I could. That means NO MUD SLINGING

We may all be in this Dinar investment - all hoping for the same thing - "RV" - but folks, we are NOT in the same place as far as physical - mental - emotional - and spiritual senses - We all have different reasons - different stories - different feelings - different thoughts - different choices -and different decisions about everything to do within Dinar Land -

While I may not agree with someones ripple and its effects - it is their ripple and it will play its part. It is a sad thing to say but many young spirits come to enlightenment ONLY through harsh ripples - ones they have created with their choices and decisions and yes maybe influenced by another persons ripple - Still -- bottom line -- we all are held accountable for our own ripples --

"LET HIM WITHOUT FAULT CAST AND MAKE THE FIRST RIPPLE"

Can we stop the mud slinging? Can we stop making the ripples that feed other ripples that do nothing more than create more ripples and muddy the water? Can we calm the water please?

I will say this in closing that if there is rock solid proof that a criminal act is in progress then yes I say it deserves immediate attention - Stating a Rumor and stating that it is a Rumor is not criminal - Having advertisements and making a profit from them is NOT criminal -- Posting a Rumor while stating it is a Rumor is NOT criminal -

Telling a lie may be criminal - again though, solid proof is warranted before making the ripples and making a case for punishment-

Many, many times, karma will even the score - The guilty ones of intentionally misguiding, and causing detriment for personal gain WILL be found out and the ones who made ripples and caused hurt and detriment "unwarranted" will also be found out and all WILL reap their just consequences.

Those caught in the crossfire will recover when they take action to accept accountability and responsibility for their own actions, choices, and decisions. Most, I feel, will become wiser and stronger because of the ripple effect.

Few will look -- Less will see
Few will listen -- less will hear

Few will read -- less will heed
Few will hear -- less will understand
Few will feel -- less will care

THE BEST TEACHER EVER

THE BEST TEACHER EVER

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