Because You're Special

[thedrifter]

Because You're Special

One day a teacher asked he students to list the names of the other students inthe 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 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 some of the comments. No one ever mentioned those papers in class again. She 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 Vietnam and his teacher attended the funeral of that special student. She had never seen a serviceman in a military coffin before. He looked so handsome, so mature. The church was packed with his friends. One by one, those who loved him took a last walk by the coffin. The teacher was 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 thoughtyou might reconize it."
Opening the billfold, he carefully removed two worn pieces of notepaper 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 vickie, another classmate, reached into her pocketbook, took out her wallet and showed her worn and frazzled list to the group. "I carry this with me at all times," Vickie said, and 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.

Sempers,

Roger

[nang]

O.K> I'm crying

[DMZ-LT]

Me too and I've read it before.

[son-of-a-v-vet]

after the tears dry i hope we all remember that we can make a difference in somebody's life.even with a smile,a kind word,anything. remember even if you're having a bad day somebody else might be having a bad or even worse day and what you say can change their day.

thank you drifter i needed that today you just made my day brighter. GOD BLESS

[SEATJERKER]

...to a fine teacher, and a fine man, My wife forwarded it to me 6 months or so ago, and it still sends a stream down my checks...
...there were so many "Mark's", and so many others, but the bonds of unity are mightily forged, and with the misfortune of passing, it does not diminish the bonds of unity forged by the friendship, and comrade, especialy when a fellow Veteran is concerned...