Never Judge a Person's Worth by the way things Appear! The following Stories and Poems will explain.
What Is A Friend?
A friend has charity. That means they don't say bad things, or talk
negatively about you behind your back. They are true friends regardless of what others say about you. They don't gossip about you.
They think about you, and care about you. Your friend doesn't exclude you, but always cares to invite you to join with her for social activities, etc. (This is very important to teenagers).
A friend shares with you. They don't expect a "payback".
A friend gives a shoulder to cry on. A listening ear. They offer their heart, not just lip service.
A friend comes to you when they have a problem with you. They don't go to others to discuss the problem. They value integrity and the Golden Rule.
They don't discuss problems with your relationship to others.
By: Betty Jean Pearson
Betty is the owner and moderator of the LDS Home School E-mail List.
Check out her Web site, you will find some neat things there.
Betty's Home Page
LITTLE TEDDY STODDARD
There is a story many years ago of an elementary teacher.
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."
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 which 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 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, 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."
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Tomorrow is Not Promissed to Us!
Tomorrow is not promissed to us,
So let us take today
And make the very most of it,
The once we pass this way.
Just speak aloud the kindly thought
And do the kindly deed
And try to see and understand
Some fellow creature's need.
Tomorrow is not promissed us
Nor any other day
So let us make the most of it
The once we pass this way
This Once Won't Matter
Society was surprised in 1964 by the sudden withdrawal of John Glenn, one of America's first astronauts, from Ohio senatorial race. The news article which reported this withdrawal (Deseret News Editorial, 1 April 1964) stated:
It's a sad and ironic thing that a man who has served through two shooting wars, orbited the earth three times and survived a risky capsule landing finds his career ended, or at least seriously threatened by a fall in his own bathroom.
So it is with many men. They steel themselves against the big temptations only to find that by slipping and giving in to smaller, seemingly unimportant temptations they have just as surely "ended or at least seriously threatened" their own future.
"Be Happy Where You Are"
Sadly, many of us continually postpone our happiness - indefinitely.
It's not that we consciously set out to do so, but that we keep convincing ourselves, "Someday I'll be happy." We tell ourselves we'll be happy when our bills are paid, when we get out of school, get our first job, a promotion,
GET THROUGH BUSY SEASON (OR JUST ANOTHER WORK DAY FOR THAT MATTER).
We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, have a baby, then another. Then we are frustrated that the kids aren't old enough and we'll be more content when they are. After that, we're frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with. We will certainly be happy when they are out of that stage. We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, are able to go on a nice vacation, when we retire. The truth is, there's no better time to be happy than right now. If not now, when? Your life will always be filled with challenges. It's best to admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway.
A quote from Alfred D'Souza. He said, "For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin - real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some
unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life."
There is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way. So, treasure every moment that you have! And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time...... and remember that time waits for no one... Yesterday is history. Tomorrow a mystery. Today is a gift. That's why it's called the present!
So stop waiting until you finish school, until you go back to
school, until you lose ten pounds, until you gain ten pounds,
until you have kids, until your kids leave the house, until you
start work, until you retire, until you get married, until you
get divorced, until Friday night, until Sunday morning, until
you get a new car or home, until your car or home is paid off,
until spring, until summer, until fall, until winter, until the
first or fifteenth, until 'your song' comes on, until you've
had a drink, until you've sobered up, until you die, until you
are born again to decide that there is no better time than
right now to be happy...
Happiness is a journey not a destination.
Thought for the day: Work like you don't need money, Love like you've
never been hurt, And dance like no one's watching.
Baby's Angel
Once upon a time there was a child ready to be born and had this
conversation with Heavenly Father:
Child: You are sending me to earth tomorrow. How shall I live there being
so small and helpless?
Heavenly Father: Among all the angels I have chosen one for you. She will be waiting
for you and will take care of you.
Child: But tell me, here in Heaven I have learned much and I sing and smile
and laugh, that's enough for me to be happy.
Heavenly Father: Your angel will teach you and sing for you and will also smile for you
every day. And you will feel your angel's love and that will make you happy.
Child: How am I going to understand when people talk to me? I don't know
the language.
Heavenly Father: Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will
ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to
speak.
Child: What am I going to do when I want to talk to you?
Heavenly Father: Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to
pray.
Child: I've heard that on earth there are bad men. Who will protect me?
Heavenly Father: Your angel will defend you even if it means risking her life.
Child: But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore.
Heavenly Father: Your angel will always talk to you about me and will teach you the way
for you to come back to me and even though you will be beyond the veil, I
will always be near.
So, there was much peace in Heaven. But voices from earth could already be
heard, and the child was in a hurry and already leaving heaven for earth.
The child asked softly: Heavenly Father? I am about to leave now, so please tell me
my angel's name.
Heavenly Father: Your angel's name is not so important. Just call her "Mommy".
A GREAT BIG HUG
No moving parts, no batteries.
No monthly payments and no fees;
Inflation proof, non-taxable,
In fact, it's quite relaxable;
It can't be stolen, won't pollute,
One size fits all, do not dilute.
It uses little energy,
But yields results enormously.
Relieves your tension and your stress,
Invigorate your happiness;
Combats depression, makes you beam,
And elevates your self esteem.
Your circulation it corrects
Without unpleasant side effects
It is, I think, the perfect drug:
May I prescribe, my friend,... the hug!
(and, of course, fully returnable!)
My Friend: Hope your day is good for you.
Do you have any Inspirational stories you want to share? Send them for evaluation to: vlcfotheringham@hotmail.com
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