Listen to His voice calling out to you...

the story of Teddy Stoddard

Wednesday, 19 March 2008

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 Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school.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 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."

giving thanks at 11:22 :)

busy weeks ahead

Wednesday, 12 March 2008

i hope to be able to patronise this blog more often.

anyway, this coming few weeks will be quite busy for me, but i thank God in advance that i know He will bring me through everything. even admidst all the work and busyness, i can still find time to spend with Him, to rest and relax, and do other things.

i'm not sure if this sem is an improvement as compared to the last one, at this point in time, i still do not have a good idea of all my modules yet. however i do not wish to continue in mediocrity, so i pray for discipline and good time-management to revise and study all my modules this sem.

ministry for me has changed, i sense that God wants me to serve more in crusade than in church for this coming acad year, to focus my energies in campus. of course that does not mean that i do not serve in church at all, but it does mean that there will be a shift of focus and importance. it is amazing how much God has enabled me to grow spiritually, mentally and intellectually through my years in NUS and campus crusade for Christ, and i still see much room for improvement and growth. at least now i am much more aware of myself than 3 years ago, and i know which areas of my life which i can work on, to focus my growth in.

many people have been asking me whether i'm going for gen12 this year, but i've decided to apply for a vacation internship instead. i've seen opportunities to go on missions with my church to Batam, and i feel that this is a good opportunity for SMC to reach out to the nations and fulfill the Great Commission. (Matt 28:18-20)

i thank God that i have a loving and God-fearing family, brothers and sisters-in-Christ who are with me through my ups and downs, and friends whom i can reach out to in His name. it's time to put words into action.

personal prayer requests:
- cell group this Friday, for a blessed time of learning and sharing
- youth sharing this Sunday, for God to put words into my mouth
- direction and specific role in campus crusade for next acad year
- a reflection paper and response essay
- project presentation next Tuesday
- for my disciples in crusade to grow more in Christ's likeness, and for me to be used by God to guide them
- for the Agape youth in SMC, and the youth leaders

giving thanks at 10:30 :)