Teddy's Story

(Author Unknown)

     I heard a story about a young lady who could hardly wait to become a teacher.  Her name was Miss Thompson.  Miss Thompson, from the time she was a little girl, couldn't think of anything she wanted to do but to become a school teacher.  She was in love with that career and educated herself, acquired a job, and had done it for a few years.
 
    At the start of every school year, she would stand before the boys and girls and say "I love you all the same", which wasn't really true.  Teachers do have favorites, you know.  But, what's worse is, that they just don't like some of the kids.

    Teddy Stallard happened to be a little boy that Miss Thompson did not like -- and with good reason:

*  He wasn't interested in school, whatsoever.
*  He was a deadpan,
*  Blank expressions,
*  Glassy eyes,
*  Unfocused appearance,
*  Clothes musty, and
*  Hair unkempt.
*  He wasn't attractive, and most certainly, wasn't likable.

    She marked Teddy's wrong answers with "Xes" with a perverse pleasure, put "Fs" on the top of the paper with a flair.   She should have known better because she had his records, and they read:

*  1st Grade - Teddy shows promise with his work  and his attitude, but poor home situation.
*  2nd Grade - Teddy could do better.  Mother  seriously ill.  Receives little help from home.
*  3rd Grade - Teddy is a good boy, but too serious,  a slow learner.  Mother died this year.
*  4th Grade - Teddy very slow but well behaved.   Father shows no interest.

    Christmas came and all the kids brought their presents and gathered around Miss Thompson's desk to watch her open all the gifts.  Among the presents was one from Teddy.  She was surprised.

    Teddy's gift was wrapped with brown paper and scotch tape and on the paper was written, "For Miss Thompson from Teddy Stallard."  When she opened it, out fell this gaudy rhinestone bracelet with half the stones missing and a bottle of cheap perfume.

    The other boys and girls began to giggle and smirk.  Miss Thompson at least had enough sense to silence them by immediately putting on the bracelet and putting on the perfume.  Holding her wrist up for them to smell, she said, "Doesn't it smell lovely?"  The children, taking their cue, agreed with "OOOHS" and "AHS".

    At the end of the day all the children left except Teddy.  He waited behind.  He slowly came over to Miss Thompson's desk and said, "Miss Thompson, Miss Thompson.  You smell just like my mother, and her Bracelet looks so nice on you".

    When Teddy left, Miss Thompson got down on her knees and asked God to forgive her.  The next day when the children came to school they were welcomed by a new teacher.  Her name:  Miss Thompson.  But Miss Thompson had returned to her first love.  She no longer was just a teacher, but became an agent for God.
She now was committed to loving her children and doing things for them that would last long after she was gone.  She helped the students, especially the slow ones, and especially Teddy.

    By the end of the year, Teddy showed dramatic improvement..., caught up with most of the students and even passed a few.

    Miss Thompson didn't hear from Teddy for a long time.  Then one day she received a note:
 

"Dear Miss Thompson,  I wanted you to be the first to know that I would be graduating second in my class.  Love, Teddy".
Four years later another note:
 
"Dear Miss Thompson,  They just told me that I'd be graduating first in my class and I wanted you to be the first to know.  The university hasn't been easy but I liked it.  Love, Teddy".
 
Four years later:
 
"Dear Miss Thompson, as of today, I am Theodore Stallard, M.D.  How about that!  I wanted you to be the first to know and I'm getting married next month --  the 22nd to be exact.  I want you to come and sit where my mother would have sat if she were still alive.  You are the only family I have now -- Dad died last year.  Love, Teddy".
 
    Miss Thompson went to that wedding.  She sat where Teddy's mother would have sat --  she deserved to sit there.  She had done something for Teddy that he would never forget -- and neither would she.
 

Contact Information:

Cornerstone Tabernacle
PO Box 17 Drakes Branch VA 23937
Phone: 434-736-8555  E-mail at drdan@marlene.org

 

 

Revised August 2001