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*The Cherry Tomato* 10/16/01 ______________________________________ If you enjoy this free daily email service, I encourage you to spread the word to family and friends that we may bring inspiration into the lives of many! If you are not on the list and this has been passed along to you, join us by sending an e-mail with the word "Subscribe" in the subject line to: HeartTouchers@aol.com Visit our inspirational web site and read all the past stories in our archives at: http://www.HeartTouchers.com ____________________________________________ Michael's long awaited book Straight From the Heart: "A Celebration of Life," is finally here! Close to 200 pages of true short stories filled with love and laughter await you! Visit our web site to order the EBook, or to order by credit card! You can also read some sample stories from the book here! http://HeartTouchers.com/michael_t__powers/ _________________________________________ We have another touching story by Australian writer Lynne Graham. There aren't many professions in the world greater than that of a teacher, and Lynne shares one of the life lessons she learned in the classroom. Be sure to encourage her in her writing by letting her know what you thought of her story! From my family to yours, Michael ____________________________________ The Cherry Tomato Lynne Graham I have been a Primary School teacher for many years now. Throughout my career there have been several occasions when incidents in the classroom have impacted me, just as much, if not more, than they have impacted the students in my classes. None more so than an experience I remember as if it was just yesterday. David was a student with come major learning difficulties. He struggled with most areas of the curriculum. He was often covered in mud from his rather vigorous games outside. He was always the last to be chosen if teams were needed for games. Few children would willingly work with him or play with him. During lunch and snack times the other children in the class often swapped treasures or treats their parents had packed in their lunchboxes. I had never seen anyone swap anything with David. As often happens, David's frustrations and feelings of rejection often led to misbehaviour in the classroom. One day I had had to talk to him about some unacceptable behaviour. After our 'chat' David returned to his desk and I continued with the group of students I was working with at that time. At first I didn't notice David come up beside me. Before I had a chance to say anything David asked, "Do you like tomatoes?" I replied rather tersely, "Yes. David but... (Thinking this was just another strategy to avoid his work I was about to direct him, firmly, back to his seat). Before I could say a word David quickly turned and went back to his seat and continued with the work he had been set. I could not fathom his strange question and decided David was just avoiding the work he had been set. I turned away from him and back to my group. Lunchtime came. David waited behind after all the other children had gone out to play and slipped quietly up to my desk where I was trying to get some marking done before going for my own lunch break. "Please..." I looked up and saw a scruffy little boy with mud on his shoes. His hair was ruffled, his shirt hanging out, his nose running and tear tracks ran down his cheeks. His big brown eyes looked up at me with a longing for acceptance that I had not seen before. It was then that David said, "I've got this for you". There in his grubby little hand was a tiny, rather squashed, cherry tomato. Tears came to my eyes as I realised that David was really hurting and needed, more than anything else, to know that I cared for him. He needed to know that my love and concern for him was not based on his looks, his behaviour, or his scholastic performance. In his own little way David was attempting to restore our relationship by giving the only thing he had to give. I drew David into my arms and gave him the hug he had been so desperate to receive. I took his little gift into my hand and through my own tears I said, "David that's the best gift I have today. Thank you" One little cherry tomato and one little boy's willingness to give it up to restore a relationship. I wondered...David could have given up on our relationship. In his determination to cover his hurt and rejection, he could have become even more difficult or 'switch off' and give up on trying to achieve any worthwhile results in his academic work. But instead, David gave that rather unusual gift...all that he had...his special lunchtime treat... How often do we as teachers say things or do things that can have a lasting effect on the children we teach? How often in the busyness of a school day, do we miss occasions when we need to listen with our hearts and see the real needs of the children in our care. I wish I could say that David's academic scores improved rapidly. I wish I could say the other children began to accept him more and welcomed him into their friendship groups or games...but those things didn't happen. David continued to have problems with his behaviour. I can say though, that David often stayed behind at lunchtimes and we had some great times. Sometimes we would just sit and talk sometimes we just listened to music on the tape recorder. As I worked David would draw pictures. I can also say that David taught me a great lesson and I will always remember the, 'Lesson of the Little Tomato'. I will always try to look beyond the external appearance, beyond the behaviour, beyond the difficulties with academic work. I will always attempt to support the emotional needs of the children in my classes. All thanks to David and his little cherry tomato. Lynne Graham (Melbourne, Australia) grahamlc@ozemail.com.au Write Lynne and let her know what you thought about her story! ____________________________ I have been a teacher in Melbourn, Australia for nearly 25 years now. I also taught in India and Bangladesh for some time. I have qualifications in Special Education and am currently working as a teacher of the Deaf. I travel around visiting children with hearing impairment who are presently mainstreamed. I have always enjoyed the challenge of teaching children with special needs -- perhaps more in the area of emotional behavioural problems. P.S. I am allergic to tomatoes! _________________________________________ "The drops of rain make a hole in the stone not by violence but by oft falling." --Lucretius Verse for the Day: "Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone." Proverbs 25:15 Kid's Thought For The Day: "Even if you've been fishing for 3 hours and haven't gotten anything except poison ivy and a sunburn, you're still better off than the worm." Parent's Thought For The Day: "Families with babies and families without are so sorry for each other." - Ed Howe Coach's Thought For The Day: "Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly." --Robert F. Kennedy Deep Thought For The Day: "Dwn wth vwls." ___________________________________________ _ /_/\/\ MICHAEL T. POWERS \_\ / HeartTouchers@aol.com /_/ \ "For I have been crucified with Christ and I no \_\/\ \ longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I \_\/ live in the body I live for the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20 ___________________________________________ The copyrights to the stories that appear in Heart Touchers are owned by the authors and are used with their permission. We refuse to run stories without the author's permission and contact info listed after the story. We also refuse to publish stories listed as "author unknown." (All of which violates Copyright Law and the rights of the authors.) This e-mail may be forwarded in its entirety, but please do not cut and paste the stories to be used elsewhere unless you have contacted and been given permission by the individual writer. Thank you so much for honoring the rights of those writers who graciously share their stories with us! __________________________________________ Video Imagery --Michael's Video Production Business "I thought of you first after my family sat down to watch the video we gave them. They loved it, to say the least! Within thirty seconds my mom was crying and my dad did too. They said it was the best Christmas gift we could have given them!! You did such a beautiful job! They were so surprised and so touched--they really, really, really loved it. Thanks for helping to make it so special to us all. My mom mentioned how the songs were perfect for the video too! Thanks again!" Kelli-- College Station, TX Let me make you a video from your pictures or home movies! Check out the web page for Michael's video production business! Visit: http://www.hearttouchers.com/video_imagery/ AOL Users click here: Video Imagery ___________________________________________ Would you like to see your story in Heart Touchers? Writer's guidelines can be found on our Web site here: http://www.HeartTouchers.com/guidelines/ AOL Users click here: Writer's Guidelines ___________________________________________ SUBSCRIBE: "I need a daily source of inspiration and encouragement in my life!" To become a Heart Touchers Member send an e-mail with "Subscribe" in the subject line to: HeartTouchers@AOL.COM Then get ready to laugh, cry, and be deeply touched by some of the best stories on the Internet! __________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: All you have to do is send an e-mail with the word "Unsubscribe" in the subject line to: HeartTouchers@aol.com Give it a day or two to be processed... __________________________________________ Do you feel as if life has no meaning for you? http://www.greatcom.org/english/four.htm AOL Users click here: The Four Spiritual Laws __________________________________________ |
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Touching Lives - One E-mail at a Time! Author Michael T. Powers - HeartTouchers @ aol.com
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