Christmas Gift - A Touching Story

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Teddy's fourth-grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school.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

(For you that don't know, Teddy Stoddard is the Dr. at Iowa Methodist in DesMoines that has the Stoddard Cancer Wing.) Warm someone's heart today. . . pass this along. I love this story so very much, I cry every time I read it. Just try to make a difference in someone's life today? tomorrow? just "do it". Random acts of kindness, I think they call it!
 

Precious Possession - A Christmas Story

The story goes that some time ago a mother punished her five-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of expensive gold wrapping paper. Money was tight and she became even more upset when the child used the gold paper to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree. Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift box to her mother the next morning and then said, "This is for you, Momma." 

The mother was embarrassed by her earlier overreaction, but her anger flared again when she opened the box and found it was empty. She harshly spoke to her daughter. "Don't you know, young lady, when you give someone a present there's supposed to be something inside the package?" She had tears in her eyes and said, "Oh, Momma, it's not empty! I blew kisses into it until it was full." 

The mother was crushed. She fell on her knees and put her arms around her little girl, and she begged her forgiveness for her thoughtless anger. An accident took the life of the child only a short time later, and it is told that the mother kept that gold box by her bed for all the years of her life. 

Whenever she was discouraged or faced difficult problems she would open the box and take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there. 

In a very real sense, each of us, as human beings, has been given a Golden box filled with unconditional love and kisses from our children, family, friends, and GOD. There is no more precious possession anyone could hold. 

 

Job Interview. MP

 

OFFICER:- What is your name?

Monday:- M.P. sir

OFFICER:- In full please

Monday:- Monday Paul

OFFICER:- Your father's name?

Monday:- M.P. sir

OFFICER:- What does that mean?

Monday:- Matthias Paul

OFFICER:- Your native place?

Monday : M.P. sir

OFFICER:- What's that?

Monday:- Malvin Province

OFFICER:- What is your qualification?

Monday:- M.P.

OFFICER:- (angry) What is that?!!!

Monday:- Mathematics Professor

OFFICER:- So why do you need a job?

Monday:- It is because of M.P. sir

OFFICER: Meaning?

Monday:- Money Problems

OFFICER:- Would you explain yourself and stop wasting my time? What's your personality like?

Monday: MP sir.

OFFICER: And what is that?

Monday:- Marvelous Personality

OFFICER:- I see... I will get back to you.

Monday:- Sir, how was M.P. sir?

OFFICER:- And what's that again?

Monday:- My Performance.

OFFICER:- I think you have M.P.

Monday:- Meaning?

OFFICER:- Mental Problem!!!

Don't laugh alone.

Send this to M.P. (Many People) to put smile on their faces.

I have post this to you because you are M.P. (My people)

Poor self-esteem

A young executive with poor self-esteem was promoted but he couldn't reconcile himself to his new office and position. There was a knock at his door.

To show how important and busy he was, he picked up the phone and then asked the visitor to come in.

As the man waited for the executive, the executive kept talking on the phone, nodding and saying, "No problem, I can handle that."

After a few minutes he hung up and asked the visitor what he could do for him. The man replied, "Sir, I'm here to connect your phone."

The Fruit of Patience

One day, Akkosa Baradvaja, whose name itself meant "wrathful brahmin," came to the Buddha and furiously pointing his forefinger at Lord Buddha, began cursing Him vehemently..

The reason was that his younger brother had become a disciple of the Buddha, thus renouncing Brahmanism, their Vedic Religion.

He swore the Buddha, and blasphemed against the Dhamma He preached. Being wrathful by nature, the brahmin did not lack abusive terms to fling non-stop at the Buddha, who appeared unperturbed by his verbal assault.

As his wrath cooled off after a tirade of heated abuse, the brahmin noticed that the Buddha was eyeing him with a look of compassion and without any sign of rancour.

He became somewhat subdued.

"Gottama, (he addressed the Buddha by His surname.) don't you feel angry with me for all I've said?" said the brahmin.

"No, brahmin, " replied the Buddha, "Let's look at things like this, Supposing a friend paid you a visit, and you gave him some presents before he left. If that friend did not accept your gift. What would become of it?"

"It would be left with me," said the brahmin.

"By the same token brahmin, I don't accept those abusive words of yours, so they remain with you," said Lord Buddha.

The brahmin saw the point, and became afflicted with remorse for what he had done.

 

Morel of the Story: Do not accept bad words and refuse to react on such behavior.  

The Richest Man on Earth

 

Someone asked Bill Gates, is there any person richer than you?

He said, yes, only one. 

 

Many years ago, I had been dismissed and I had gone to New York airport. I read titles of newspapers there. I liked one of them and I want to buy it. But I didn't have change (coin). So abandoned the idea, suddenly, a black boy called me and told me, “This newspaper for you.” I said, but I don’t have change. He said, “No problem, I give you free”.

After 3 months, I went there. Coincidentally, that story happened again and that same boy gave me another free newspaper again. I said, I can’t accept it. But he said, “I give you from my profit.”

After 19 years, I had been rich and I decided to find that boy. I found him after one and half month's search. I asked him, do you know me? He said, “Yes, you’re famous Bill Gates.”

I said, you gave me free newspaper 2 times many years ago. Now, I want to compensate it. I am going to give you everything that you want. Black young man replied, “You can’t compensate it!”

I said, why? He said, "Because I gave you when I was poor. You want to give me when you are rich. So, how do you compensate?"

Bill Gates said, I think that black young man is richer than me.

You don't have to be rich or wait to be rich to give......

Real attitude of giving is when you give out of your lack.

A Farmer and His Wife - A Moral Story

A farmer said to his wife, “You are lazy. You work slowly and lethargically. You waste your time."

The wife was angry at the words of her husband.

She said to her husband, “You are wrong. Stay at home tomorrow. I will go to field. I will do your work there. Will you do my works at home here?"

The farmer said happily, “Very well. I will do your works back at home."

The wife said, “Milk the cow. Feed the pigs. Wash the utensils. Take care of our hen. Spin the yarn."

The woman went to the field. The farmer stayed back at home. He took a vessel and went to the cow to milk it. He tried to milk the cow. He received a good kick. He then went to the pig-sty. He hit his head against the beam. He went to feed the hen. He forgot to spin.

The wife returned from the field when it turned evening. The farmer hung down his head in shame. Thereafter he did not find fault with his wife. They lived happily together for a long time.