The Power of Kindness and the Love of a Mother
Kindness is a force stronger than any lesson learned in a classroom. It’s the quiet strength behind simple gestures—a warm smile, an encouraging word, a moment of understanding that can change someone’s life forever.
The story of Teddy and Mrs. Thompson reminds us of just that. A boy, weighed down by grief, nearly lost himself. A teacher, caught in the motions of routine, almost overlooked him. But one small act—an old bracelet and a bottle of perfume—awakened an undeniable truth: people just want to be seen, heard, and loved.
Learning to Be Kind
Kindness isn’t grand gestures or elaborate sacrifices; it’s everyday moments:
- Listening when someone needs a friend.
- Encouraging when someone doubts their worth.
- Showing patience when frustration tempts us otherwise.
- Showing up for those who care about you and you say you care about.
The more we practice kindness, the more it becomes second nature—like breathing. And when kindness is given freely, it has a way of returning tenfold.
Never Taking Your Mother for Granted
For those blessed to have a mother’s love, cherish it. The little things—her voice on the phone, her advice (even when you don’t ask for it), the warmth in her embrace—are treasures we don’t always realize until they’re gone. Her smell.
A mother’s love is selfless, boundless, and unwavering.
So, call her. Hug her. Thank her. Appreciate her while you can.
Because someday, her perfume might be all that’s left, and you’ll wish you had just one more moment to tell her how much she means to you.
There’s a story from many years ago that tells of an
A Story
An elementary school teacher whose name was Mrs.
Thompson.
As she stood in front of her fifth-grade class
On the first day of school, she told her children a lie. Like most
teachers, she looked at her students and told them that she loved
them all the same. But that simply was not true, 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. His clothes
were messy and he constantly needed a bath. Teddy could be
unpleasant at times. It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson
would take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen
and making bold X’s and finally putting a Big “F” on the top of his
papers.
At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required
to review each child’s past records. She put Teddy’s off till last.
When she finally reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise.
Teddys first grade teacher wrote, “Teddy is a bright child with
a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners.
He’s a joy to be around.” His second-grade teacher wrote, “Teddy
is an excellent student and well-liked by his classmates. But he’s
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. His home life will soon affect him if
steps aren’t taken.” Teddys fourth grade teacher wrote, “Teddy is
withdrawn and doesn’t show much interest in school. He doesn’t
have many friends and sometimes he even 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 Teddys.
His present was clumsily wrapped in 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 explained
how pretty the bracelet was while
putting it on and then dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist.
Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day just long enough to
say, “Mrs. Thompson, today you smell just like my mom used to.”
After the children left, she cried for at least an hour.
On this very day, she quit teaching reading, writing and
arithmetic and instead she began to teach children.
Mrs. Thompson began to pay close attention to Teddy as she worked
with him. As time went on 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.
Despite her lie, he had become one of her teacher’s pets. A
year later she found a note under the door from Teddy telling her
that she was the best teacher he had ever had in his whole life.
Six years passed by and to her surprise, another note came
from Teddy. He wrote that he had finished high school third in
his class and that she was still the best teacher that he had ever
had in his whole life. Four years later, another letter came, saying
that while things had been tough at times, he stayed in school
and stuck with it and that he had graduated from college with the
highest of honors.
He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still
the very best and favorite teacher he had ever had in his whole life.
Four more years passed by and yet another letter came. This
time he explained that after he got his bachelor’s degree, he had
decided to go a little further. Again, assuring her that she was still
the best and favorite teacher he ever had.
The letter was signed
Theodore F. Stoddard MD.
The story doesn’t end there. There was one final letter that
spring. Teddy said that he had met this girl and that he was going
to be married. He explained that his father had died a couple years
ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit in
the place, at his wedding, that was usually reserved for the mother
of the groom. Of course, Mrs. Thompson did. She wore that
bracelet, the one with the several rhinestones missing. She also
made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered
his mother wearing on their last Christmas together. After the
wedding, they hugged each other as Dr. Stoddard whispered
in Mrs. Thompson ear, “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, “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.”
I quickly realized the countless times I too, like Mrs. Thompson,
had judged someone by their appearance, just like you have. Maybe the wrong clothes, not as expensive as yours, or the ones you
see standing at the intersections with the signs that read, “Will
work for food.” How quickly I have judged these souls without ever
considering what events in their lives have led them to where they
now stand. Are they scammers? maybe but maybe not….As we each go through our daily lives, it is inevitable
that we are going to run into those who just seem to be in the way
or who don’t quite live up to our expectations.
You’ve heard the old saying that we should never judge
another until you have walked a mile in their shoes.
Our joys and our struggles in life come in many
different forms, but we all share them. No one person is an island.
You never know how one kind word or act of kindness might affect
another. And you never know how one mean word or act of disrespect
can really hurt someone to their core.
The next time you see that waitress who seems to be having
an attitude, or brings you the wrong meal, why not leave her a
generous tip. The coworker who never has anything good to say
about you, look for the good in them and mention it. The clerk down
at the local convenient store who never has a smile on his face,
try putting one on them. How about the man in the wheelchair
who lost his legs, maybe he lost them fighting for our freedom?
The mom or dad who is lonely because her children forgot she existed.
We would be wise to learn to rejoice with those who rejoice as well
as mourn with those who mourn. No matter what your walk in life, your
color, race, religion, or background, we are all in this together.
We are a universe. Uni meaning one and verse meaning song. As one
sailor said to the other, “We all row the same boat.” We are one
song, now let’s make some beautiful music.
Joyful-Echoes 