Teachers Change Lives - A Simple Kindess, A Life Changed

While at church a few weeks ago, our Pastor told us a TRUE STORY that touched my heart.  The story was of a young boy in elementary school.  He was a very active, normal little, boy into sports and very social.  As his career in elementary school progressed, his mother became very ill and DIED.
The boy returned to school after the eath of his mother and he was somewhat quiet.  Not know what to do the teacher decided it was better not to bother him and upset him at chool by talking to him about his mother.  She decided it was better to treat him as if NOTHING HAD HAPPEND.
As the days passed, the boy became more and more dispondent and at times, even acted out in call.  He progressed to the next grade and the teacher reported this behavior to the new teacher. 
She told the new teacher that Timmy used to be a GOOD STUDENT.  She said he has become quieter this year and has been acting out in class.  That his grades had dropped and he was no longer social.
The new teacher noticed that Timmy came to school without lunch and at times was even wearing the same closes days at a time.  He showed no effort to do any of his work.  The teacher decided to WRITE THIS CHILD OFF AS A LOST CAUSE and did not try to reach out to little Timmy
Somehow Timmy continued to the next grade.
Following the same cycle, his teacher gave report to the new teacher saying that Timmy apparently had been a happy playful student but since she had had him in her class she had not seen anything but a dispondent child, who was at times dirty, with no lunch and made no effort to do well in school.  That he was "just one of those kids", "sorry you got him".
The new teacher did not know what to do.
After several weeks in the new school year, the new teacher decided to bring Timmy a new lunchbox filled with a sandwich, snack and drink.  Timmy quickly ate and quietly returned the lunchbox to the teacher.   She softly told him, "it's yours".  Silently, he took the lunchbox home.
The new teacher also noted that over the first few weeks in school that Timmy did not do any homework and infact never came to school prepared.   One day at lunch, the new teacher kept Timmy in during recess and offered to help him with his work.  After a few times of working with Timmy, she noticed  a small smile on his face and that he really seemed to enjoy the help.  She also noticed that Timmy never brought the lunchbox back to school.
The teacher decided to help Timmy every day during recess and she also packed a lunch each day and quietly gave it to Timmy.  This seemed to work as the new teacher noticed that after a couple of weeks, Timmy came to school smiling and began to have better grades and she noticed he was more social with his classmates.
The next year came and Timmy went to a new class.   The teacher reported on to his new teacher that although Timmy had a difficult start, he had progressed nicely and that he was doing quite well in school.  He seemed to do well with his classmates and intereacted appropriately.
THIS was the last time This Teacher had any real contact with Timmy.
YEARS PASSED, AND THE TEACHER RECEIVED A LETTER.  THE LETTER READ. 
DEAR MRS. PARKER,
GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL TOP OF MY CLASS.  JUST THOUGHT YOU WOULD WANT TO KNOW. 
 THANK YOU,  TIMMY.

YEARS PASSED AND THE TEACHER RECEIVED ANOTHER LETTER.

DEAR MRS PARKER,
I HAVE GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE AND I AM ATTENDING MEDICAL SCHOOL.  I GRADUATED WITH HONORS FROM COLLEGE.  JUST THROUGH YOU WOULD LIKE TO KNOW. 
THANK YOU TIMMY.
SEVERAL YEARS PASSED AND THE TEACHER ANTICIPATED HEARING FROM TIMMY BUT SHE DID NOT HEAR FROM HIM.
THEN... A LETTER APPEARED, AND IT READ
DEAR MRS PARKER,
GRADUATED FROM MEDICAL SCHOOL WITH HONORS.  AS YOU MAY REMEMBER, MY MOTHER DIED WHEN I WAS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.  I AM GETTING MARRIED IN JUNE.  I WOULD BE HONORED IF YOU WOULD ATTEND MY WEDDING AND SIT IN THE SEAT MY MOTHER WOULD SIT IN IF SHE WERE HERE.  YOU ARE THE ONLY MOTHER I HAVE EVER HAD. 
MUCH LOVE,  TIMMY

MRS PARKER ATTENDED THE WEDDING AND SAT ON THE FRONT ROW, IN THE SPOT WHERE TIMMY'S MOTHER WOULD SIT.  SHE HAD CHANGED HIS LIFE.  SHE TOOK THE TIME TO CARE FOR HIM AND SHOW HIM LOVE AND COMPASSION WHEN NO ONE ELSE CARED.  HER SIMPLE KINDNESS CHANGED HIS LIFE AND THEY WERE NEVER THE SAME.
Do you know someone in need.  Someone you could show a SIMPLE KINDNESS to.
Not because you want the REWARD, BUT because YOU could change their life.
Blessings come in many forms.  What blessing will you be a part of this season?
May you experience a blessing like this in your life.

Sarah Moore, Broker/REALTOR
RE/MAX SIGNATURE PROPERTIES
704-706-4160
www.WeOpenMoreDoors.com

Sarah Moore, Broker/REALTOR

RE/MAX SIGNATURE PROPERTIES  ~  7752 Gateway Lane, Suite 200  ~  Concord, NC   ~  28027

www.WeOpenMoreDoors.com