In the last article we wrote about wisdom with situations and characters. Plus, the importance of wisdom concerning the situations that come our way in life, which might be either a reason for their happiness and the happiness of those around or for their misery.
We presented the character of the mother of Thomas Edison, who enlightened the world by her wisdom, her patience and her encouragement of her son, the scientist and inventor who was described as stupid.
However, the whole world was changed as a result of his inventions that were accomplished for humanity, through his mother’s wise treatment. Today, we continue writing about the wisdom of man in certain situations, and how he overcomes the difficulties of life’s situations, as if he crosses raging seas safe and sound. Wise Solomon says: “The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent, and their lips promote instruction”. Thus, when the wise man speaks, wisdom is his guide in all life’s situations.
A leader’s wisdom:
One day, Winston Churchill, the famous Prime Minister was invited by a British nobleman to a dinner party together with many prestigious and elite officials, and during the banquet, one of the assistants of the Prime Minister came near him and whispered in his ear: “We have seen a lady surreptitiously putting an expensive silver saltshaker in her handbag, what shall we do?!” Then the Prime Minister answered his assistant: “Leave it to me, I’ll handle this.”
Then he picked up another salt shaker and pocketed it, and approached the seated lady, asked her to talk alone, and when they were apart from the guests, he took the salt shaker out of his pocket and said to the lady: “Dear madam, I’m afraid they’ve seen us! It would be better if we put the two salt shakers back.”
The two salt shakers were returned to their rightful place, and everything ended peacefully and wisely.
How wise of that famous leader! Although he had the right to condemn that lady and defame her, yet he cared more to reform her rather than lose her, so he gave her the opportunity to correct her mistake.
A wise person is meticulous:
Wise Solomon says: “The wise man’s eyes are in his head, But the fool walks in darkness.” Also: “Who is like a wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man’s wisdom makes his face shine, And the sternness of his face is changed.” So the wise man perceives, endures, listens and scrutinizes everything around him so he may get accurate knowledge, then he can manage all matters, making right decisions, and acting appropriately in life’s situations. This is exactly what happened with a certain teacher, contrary to a certain University Chancellor.
Mrs. Thompson addressed her fifth-grade pupils on the first day of school with a nice welcoming phrase, like most teachers, saying: “I love you all.” However she wasn’t sincere towards one of the pupils, named Teddy Stoddard. She had noticed that this boy didn’t play with the other children, his clothes were always unclean and that he constantly needed a bath, besides which he was depressed. She would delight in marking his papers with a red pen, giving him a big “fail”!
One day, while she was reviewing his file she was surprised at what was written by his first-grade teacher, “Teddy is a brilliant, merry child. He does his work carefully, in neat and orderly fashion, he also has good manners”.
As for his second-grade teacher, he wrote: “Teddy is a clever student liked by his classmates, but he is disturbed and worried, because of his mother’s illness which made life at home difficult and troublesome”. And in the third-grade, this was written of him: “His mother’s death has been hard on Teddy, who continues working hard, trying to study diligently and do his best, but his father is indifferent, and his home life will soon impact him if some actions aren’t taken.”
While his fourth-grade teacher wrote: “Teddy is an introverted student. He doesn’t have many friends and he isn’t interested in studying and sometimes sleeps in class!” Then Mrs. Thompson realized the problem, and decided to help the child.
At Christmas, her students brought her presents, all beautifully wrapped with ribbons and bright gift-wrap, except for Teddy’s, which was wrapped irregularly in grocery paper. As she was opening Teddy’s present, she felt pained, because some of the students started laughing when she found a necklace with some of the stones missing, and an incomplete bottle of perfume.
However, she expressed how pretty the necklace was, putting it on, and spraying some of the perfume on her wrist.
On that very same day, Teddy waited for his teacher just to tell her: “Today you smell just like my mom used to!!” He’d brought her his mother’s perfume, having sensed the kindness of a mother in his teacher!!
Mrs. Thompson paid great attention to Teddy, such that he recovered mentally and the more she encouraged him, the more he responded.
By the end of the year, Teddy had become the most distinguished and intelligent student in the class.
A year later, Teddy wrote to his teacher saying: “You are the best teacher I’ve ever met in my life!
After six years had passed, he wrote to her that he had excelled and finished high school, and she was still the best teacher he had ever met in his life.
After four more years, he sent her another letter saying that study had become tough, and he stayed in the campus constantly now and would graduate soon from college with the highest honors. And he assured her that she was the best and the most beloved teacher until then.
Four more years later, she received another letter, telling her that after he had got his Bachelor’s Degree, he decided to study further, and he assured her again that she was still the best, most beloved, favorite of all his teachers. That time, the letter was signed, Dr. Theodore F. Stoddard!!
That spring he sent her another letter telling her that he was getting married and he hoped that she might attend his wedding, taking his mother’s place! Mrs. Thompson attended and wore that very same necklace which he had presented to her at Christmas, scented with the same perfume.
At the wedding party, Dr Stoddard said to his teacher: “Thank you for believing in me, and for making me feel that I’m remarkable, and that I could be distinguished and special.”
Then he launched the “Stoddard Cancer Treatment Center”, which is renowned as one of the most efficient and famous center in the United States of America.
This is the famous Dr. Teddy Stoddard, who became so successful and distinguished, due to his teacher’s wisdom.
On the contrary was the case of the University Chancellor who…
To be continued…
