SFPNN Special Edition –
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— Thanks to
You're Special
One day a teacher asked her students to list the names
of the other students in the room on two sheets of paper, leaving a space
between each name.
Then she told them to think of the nicest thing they
could say about each of their classmates and write it down. It took the
remainder of the class period to finish their assignment, and as the students
left the room, each one handed in the papers.
That Saturday, the teacher wrote down the name of each
student on a separate sheet of paper and listed what everyone else had said
about that individual.
On Monday she gave each student his or her list.
Before long the entire class was smiling. "Really?" she heard
whispered. "I never knew that I meant anything to anyone!" and,
"I didn't know others liked me so much," were most of the comments.
No one ever mentioned those papers in class again. The
teacher never knew if they discussed them after class or with their parents,
but it didn't matter. The exercise had accomplished its purpose. The students
were happy with themselves and one another.
That group of students moved on. Several years later,
one of the students was killed in
The church was packed with his friends. One by one
those who loved him took a last walk by the coffin. The teacher was the last
one to bless the coffin. As she stood there, one of the soldiers who acted as
pallbearer came up to her.
"Were you Mark's math teacher?" he asked.
She nodded: "yes." Then he said: "Mark talked about you a
lot."
After the funeral, most of Mark's former classmates
went together to a luncheon. Mark's mother and father were there, obviously
waiting to speak with his teacher.
"We want to show you something," his father
said, taking a wallet out of his pocket. "They found this on Mark when he
was killed. We thought you might recognize it."
Opening the billfold, he carefully removed two worn
pieces of notebook paper that had obviously been taped, folded and refolded
many times.
The teacher knew without looking that the papers were
the ones on which she had listed all the good things each of Mark's classmates
had said about him.
"Thank you so much for doing that", Mark's
mother said. "As you can see, Mark treasured it."
All of Mark's former classmates started to gather
around.
Charlie smiled rather sheepishly and said, "I
still have my list. It's in the top drawer of my desk at home."
Chuck's wife said, "Chuck asked me to put his in
our wedding album."
"I have mine too," Marilyn said. "It's
in my diary."
Then Vicki, another classmate, reached into her purse;
took out her wallet, and showed her worn and frazzled list to the group.
"I carry this with me at all times," Vicki said without batting an eyelash.
She continued, "I think we all saved our lists."
That's when the teacher finally sat down and cried.
She cried for Mark and for all his friends who would never see him again.
The density of people in society is so thick that we
forget that life will end one day, and we don't know when that one day will be.
So please, tell the people you love and care for, that
they are special and important. Tell them before it's too late. One way to
accomplish this is to forward this message on.
If you've received this, it is because someone cares
for you and it means there is probably at least someone for whom you care.
* * *
Now you can find all of your favorite SFPNN Special Editions in one place at: http://www.sfpnn.com/pnn_special_edition.htm
Also look for our Soul Magic series! http://www.sfpnn.com/soul_magic.htm
For current and back issues of Sir Froggie's Positive News Network, go to: http://www.sfpnn.com/pnn_current_issues.htm
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This and
every issue of SFPNN is dedicated to MISTY, a tiny angel who taught us to love
unconditionally and bask in the glory and joy of each moment.
For more information about Misty, please visit Misty’s
Miracle at: http://www.sfpnn.com/SoulMagic/Soul2001/sm040601.htm and our Reflections of a Zen Master / Fuzzy
Tales page at: http://www.sfpnn.com/misty.htm
.
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"ONLY LOVE PREVAILS" — © Beverley Waller