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Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show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."
 
Mrs. Thompson now understood 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 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 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'