Teddy Stallard was an unattractive and unmotivated fifth grade boy.
His teacher, Mrs. Thompson found him difficult to like due to his deadpan, expressionless, unfocused stare.
She had to admit that down deep inside she took pleasure in marking his papers with red ink and making an F with a special flair.
As a teacher she had access to his records and sought to know more about him.
1st Grade: Teddy shows promise with his work and attitude but has a poor home situation.
2cnd Grade: Teddy could do better. Mother is seriously ill and he receives little help at home.
3rd Grade: Teddy is a good boy but too serious. Slow learner. His mother died this year.
4th Grade: Teddy is very slow but well behaved. Father shows no interest.
At Christmas the children in Mrs. Thompson’s class brought her presents in pretty wrappings. When she got to Teddy’s it was crudely wrapped in brown paper and loosely held together with tape. She opened it to find a bracelet with stones missing and a bottle of cheap perfume.
Some of the children snickered but trying to be nice she slipped on the bracelet and even some perfume saying, ’Doesn’t it smell lovely?’
When school was over Teddy lingered behind and came to her desk,
’Miss Thompson, you smell just like my mother, and her bracelet looks real pretty on you too. I’m glad you liked my presents’.
That night she went home and asked God to forgive her for how she had treated that little boy.
Next day, her class welcomed a new teacher.
Miss Thompson was no longer just a teacher but an agent of God.
She committed herself to loving her children and especially Teddy Stallard.
Teddy began to show dramatic improvement and by the end of the year had caught up with most of the other students.
She did not hear from Teddy for a long time until one day she received a note:
’Dear Miss Thompson. I wanted you to know that I will be graduating second in my high school class’ Love Teddy Stallard.
Four years later:
’Dear Miss Thompson: They just told me I would be
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