The Written Word

The art of communication in print is alive and well, although becoming rare. And, when my wife and I recently received a thoughtful hand-written note from a couple we hold in the highest regard, we celebrated its arrival and opened it immediately.

It was around January 2019 when we, and those we enjoyed spending time with, went into a self-imposed hibernation to avoid being infected with COVID-19. During the hiatus from civilization, we found it difficult to reconnect with our friends; it seems that texts, emails, and the phone don’t share the same level of sincerity realized when face to face.

The letter is important to us, and we will cherish the script forever, but also included with their kind words was a story tucked into the envelope.

Quite moving, with the ability to bring a flood of tears with without warning, we wish to share one of the most touching chronicles we have ever read—or been delivered to our attention.

We hope you enjoy this message as much as we have, and of course, we urge you
to forward it to a friend or family.

This is a Wonderful Story, Author Unknown

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 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 names of each student on a separate sheet of paper and listed what everyone else 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 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. 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—[then] the 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.

“I have never seen a serviceman in a military coffin before,” [she said]. “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 [but it was] the teacher [who] was the last one to bless the coffin. As she stood there, one of the pallbearers 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 to a luncheon. Mark’s mother and father were [also] there, obviously waiting to speak with his teacher.

“We want to show you something,” his father said. Taking a wallet out of his pocket, he said, “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 at the paper [it was] the one 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 [and] rather sheepishly 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 this in our wedding album.”

“I have mine too,” Marilyn said, “It’s in my diary.”

Then Vicki, 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 all the time,” Vicki said, and without batting an eyelash, she continued, “I think we all saved our lists.”

That is when the teacher finally sat down and cried. She cried for Mark and for all of 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 day will be.

So please, tell the people you love and care for, that they are special and important, tell them before it is too late.

One way to accomplish this is to forward this message on; if you do not send it, you will have passed on the opportunity to do something nice and beautiful.

If you received this [note], it is because someone cares for you, and it means there is [the] probability at least someone for whom you care.

(Send your copy to a friend today).