Why do we read Qur’an??

Why do we read Qur’an, even if we can’t understand a single Arabic word????   
This is beautiful story 

An old American Muslim lived on a farm in the mountains of eastern Kentucky with his young grandson. Each morning Grandpa wakeup early sitting at the kitchen table reading his Qur’an. His grandson wanted to be just like him and tried to imitate him in every way he could. One day the grandson asked,
“Grandpa! I try to read the Qur’an just like you but I don’t understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Qur’an do?” The Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and replied, “Take this coal basket down to the river and bring me back a basket of water.”

The  boy did as he was told, but all the water leaked out before he got back to the house. The grandfather laughed and said, “You’ll have to move a little faster next time,” and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again. This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was impossible to carry water in a basket, and he went to get a bucket instead. The old man said, “I don’t want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You’re just not trying hard enough,” and he went out the door to watch the boy try again. At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would Leak out before he got back to the house. The boy again dipped the basket into river and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket  was again empty. Out of breathe, he said, “See Grandpa, it’s useless!” “So you think it is useless?”  

The old man said, “Look at the basket.” The boy looked at the basket and for the first time realized that the basket was different. It had been transformed from a dirty old coal basket and was now clean, inside and out. “Son, that’s what happens when you read the Qur’an. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, you will be changed, inside and out. That is the work of Allah in our lives.”
If you feel this article is worth reading, please forward to your contacts/friends.
Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h) says: “The one who guides to good will be rewarded equally”
 
http://moralsandethics.wordpress.com/2007/08/01/why-do-we-read-qur%E2%80%99an/

The important things in life

A philosophy professor stood before his class with some items on the table in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks, about 2 inches in diameter.

He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks.
He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else.
He then asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous “Yes.”
“Now,” said the professor, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The rocks are the important things – your family, your partner, your health, your children – things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter – like your job, your house, your car.
The sand is everything else. The small stuff.”
“If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued “there is no room for the pebbles or the rocks. The same goes for your life.

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take your partner out dancing. There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party and fix the disposal
.
Take care of the rocks first – the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”

http://academictips.org/blogs/moral-tale-the-important-things-in-life/

Mencari Jodoh

Baitul Muslim, Mar'ah Muslimah

Oleh: Herlini Amran

---

dakwatuna.com – Allah telah menciptakan manusia berpasang-pasangan, supaya muncul suatu ketenangan, kesenangan, ketenteraman, kedamaian dana kebahagiaan. Hal ini tentu saja menyebabkan setiap laki-laki dan perempuan mendambakan pasangan hidup yang memang merupakan fitrah manusia, apalagi pernikahan itu merupakan ketetapan Ilahi dan dalam sunnah Rasul ditegaskan bahwa “Nikah adalah Sunnahnya”. Oleh karena itu Dinul Islam mensyariatkan dijalinnya pertemuan antara laki-laki dan perempuan dan selanjutnya mengarahkan pertemuan tersebut sehingga terlaksananya suatu pernikahan.

Namun dalam kenyataannya, untuk mencari pasangan yang sesuai tidak selamanya mudah. Hal ini berkaitan dengan permasalahan jodoh. Memang perjodohan itu sendiri suatu hal yang ghaib dan sulit diduga, kadang-kadang pada sebagian orang mudah sekali datangnya, dan bagi yang lain amat sulit dan susah. Bahkan ada kalanya sampai tua seseorang belum menikah juga.

Fenomena beberapa tahun akhir-akhir ini, kita melihat betapa banyaknya muslimah-muslimah yang menunggu kedatangan jodoh, sehingga tanpa terasa usia mereka semakin bertambah, sedangkan para musliminnya, bukannya tidak ada, mereka secara ma’isyah belum berani maju untuk melangkahkan kakinya menuju mahligai rumah tangga yang mawaddah wa rahmah. Kekhawatiran jelas tampak, di tengah-tengah perekonomian yang semakin terpuruk, sulit bagi mereka untuk memutuskan segera menikah.
Gejala ini merupakan salah satu dari problematika dakwah dewasa ini. Dampaknya kaum muslimah semakin membludak, usia mereka pelan namun pasti beranjak semakin naik.

Untuk mencari solusinya, dengan tetap berpegangan kepada syariat Islam yang memang diturunkan untuk kemaslahatan manusia, beberapa kiat mencari jodoh dapat dilakukan :

1. Yang paling utama dan lebih utama adalah memohonkannya pada Sang Khalik, karena Dialah yang menciptakan manusia berpasang-pasangan (QS.4:1). Permohonan kepada Allah SWT dengan meminta jodoh yang diridhoiNya, merupakan kebutuhan penting manusia karena kesuksesan manusia mendapatkan jodoh berpengaruh besar dalam kehidupan dunia dan akhirat seseorang.

2. Melalui mediator, antara lain:
a. Orang tua. Seorang muslimah dapat meminta orang tuanya untuk mencarikannya jodoh dengan menyebut kriteria yang ia inginkan. Pada masa Nabi SAW, beliau dan para sahabat-sahabatnya segera menikahkan anak perempuan. Sebagaimana cerita Fatimah binti Qais, bahwa Nabi SAW bersabda padanya : Kawinlah dengan Usamah. Lalu aku kawin dengannya, maka Allah menjadikan kebaikan padanya dan keadaanku baik dan menyenangkan dengannya (HR. Muslim).
b. Guru ngaji (murabbiyah). Jika memang sudah mendesak untuk menikah, seorang muslimah tidak ada salahnya untuk minta tolong kepada guru ngajinya agar dicarikan jodoh yang sesuai dengannya. Dengan keyakinan bahwa jodoh bukanlah di tangan guru ngaji. Ini adalah salah satu upaya dalam mencari jodoh.
c. Sahabat dekat. Kepadanya seorang muslimah bisa mengutarakan keinginannya untuk dicarikan jodoh. Sebagai gambaran, kita melihat perjodohan antara Nabi SAW dengan Khadijah RA. Diawali dengan ketertarikan Khadijah RA kepada pribadi beliau yang pada saat itu berstatus karyawan pada perusahaan bisnis yang dipegang oleh Khadijah RA. Melalui Nafisah sebagai mediatornya akhirnya Nabi SAW menikahi Khadijah RA..
d. Biro Jodoh. Biro jodoh yang Islami dapat memenuhi keinginan seorang muslimah untuk menikah. Dikatakan Islami karena prosedur yang dilakukan sesuai dengan syariat Islam. Salah satu di antaranya adalah Club Ummi Bahagia.

3. Langsung, dalam arti calon sudah dikenal terlebih dahulu dan ia berakhlaq Islami menurut kebanyakan orang-orang yang dekat dengannya (temannya atau pihak keluarganya). Namun pacaran tetap dilarang oleh Islam. Jika masing-masing sudah cocok maka segera saja melamar dan menikah. Kadang kala yang tertarik lebih dahulu adalah muslimahnya, maka ia dapat menawarkan dirinya kepada laki-laki saleh yang ia senangi tersebut (dalam hal ini belum lazim di tengah-tengah masyarakat kita). Seorang sahabiat pernah datang kepada Nabi SAW dan menawarkan dirinya pada beliau. Maka seorang wanita mengomentarinya, “Betapa sedikit rasa malunya.” Ayahnya yang mendengar komentar putrinya itu menjawab, “Dia lebih baik dari pada kamu, dia menginginkan Nabi SAW dan menawarkan dirinya kepada beliau.”
Sebuah cerita bagus dikemukakan oleh Abdul Halim Abu Syuqqoh pengarang buku Tahrirul Mar’ah, bahwa ada seorang temannya yang didatangi oleh seorang wanita untuk mengajaknya menikah. Temannya itu merasa terkejut dan heran, maka wanita itu bertanya, “Apakah aku mengajak Anda untuk berbuat haram? Aku hanya mengajak Anda untuk kawin sesuai dengan sunnah Allah dan Rasul-Nya”. Maka terjadilah pernikahan setelah itu.

Semua upaya tersebut hendaknya dilakukan satu persatu dengan rasa sabar dan tawakal tidak kenal putus asa. Di samping itu seorang muslimah sambil menunggu sebaiknya ia mengaktualisasikan kemampuannya. Lakukan apa yang dapat dilakukan sehingga bermanfaat bagi masyarakat dan dakwah. Jika seorang muslimah kurang pergaulan, bagaimana ia dapat mengenal orang lain yang ingin menikahinya.

Barangkali perlu mengadakan evaluasi terhadap kriteria pasangan hidup yang ia inginkan. Bisa jadi standar ideal yang ia harapkan menyebabkan ia terlalu memilih-milih. Menikah dengan orang hanif (baik keagamaannya) merupakan salah satu alternatif yang perlu diperhatikan sebagai suatu tantangan dakwah baginya.

Akhirnya, semua usaha yang telah dilakukan diserahkan kembali kepada Allah SWT. Ia Maha Mengetahui jalan kehidupan kita dan kepadaNyalah kita berserah diri. Wallahu A’lam bishowab. (hudzaifah/hdn)

http://www.dakwatuna.com/2010/kiat-mencari-jodoh/

INSPIRATIONAL

A MOTHERS LOVE

 By unknown Author

A little boy came up to his mother in the kitchen one evening while she was fixing supper, and handed her a piece of paper that he had been writing on. After his Mom dried her hands on an apron, she read it, and this is what it said:

For cutting the grass: $5.00
For cleaning up my room this week: $1.00
For going to the store for you: $.50
Baby-sitting my kid brother while you went shopping: $.25
Taking out the garbage: $1.00
For getting a good report card: $5.00
For cleaning up and raking the yard: $2.00
Total owed: $14.75

Well, his mother looked at him standing there, and the boy could see the memories flashing through her mind. She picked up the pen, turned over the paper he'd written on, and this is what she wrote:

For the nine months I carried you while you were growing inside me:
No Charge

For all the nights that I've sat up with you, doctored and prayed for you:
No Charge

For all the trying times, and all the tears that you've caused through the years:
No Charge

For all the nights that were filled with dread, and for the worries I knew were ahead:
No Charge

For the toys, food, clothes, and even wiping your nose:
No Charge

Son, when you add it up, the cost of my love is:
No Charge.

When the boy finished reading what his mother had written, there were big tears in his eyes, and he looked straight at his mother and said, "Mom, I sure do love you." And then he took the pen and in great big letters he wrote: "PAID IN FULL".
 
Lessons: 
You will never how much your parents worth till you become a parent
Be a giver not an asker, especially with your parents. there is a lot to give, besides money.

Advice: IF your mom is alive and close  to you, give her a big kiss and ask her for forgiveness. If she is far away, call her. if she passed away, pray for her

Attitude

  by: Rev. Charles Swindoll, Source Unknown

The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, then circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think, say, or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company, a church, a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day.
 
We cannot change our past. We cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you. We are in charge of our attitudes

Lessons of Failure

  by: Author Unknown, Source Unknown

Lord, are you trying to tell me something? For...   Failure does not mean I'm a failure; It does mean I have not yet succeeded. Failure does not mean I have accomplished nothing; It does mean I have learned something. Failure does not mean I have been a fool; It does mean I had enough faith to experiment. Failure does not mean I have disgraced; It does mean I have dared to try. Failure does not mean I don't have it; It does mean I have something to do in a different way. Failure does not mean I am inferior; It does mean I am not perfect. Failure does not mean I have wasted my life; It does mean that I have an excuse to start over. Failure does not mean that I should give up; It does mean that I should try harder. Failure does not mean that I will never make it; It does mean that I need more practice. Failure does not mean that you have abandoned me; It does mean that you must have a better idea

A TEACHER IS A THINKER...

This morning, I went to the book store to buy some books and there was one book that captured my sight.  The title of the book is Rhymes for Children by Adibah Amin.  I bought the books and I went through each and every line of the rhymes.  Fascinating!

Just want to share the rhyme....

Thanks, Teacher

I gave a Teacher a "thank you" card,

She looked surprised and smiled at me.

I thank her for trying hard

To teach me not to be naughty.

She laughed and said, "You're okay,

You always try to be good.

But sometimes you get carried away

And don't do what you should."

Teacher's lesson are interesting,

Her jokes help us remember,

Yet often we start chatting

And playing with one another.

Then she asks us tough questions

And laughs when we blink.

We all enjoy her lessons:

She makes us listen and think.

Adibah Amin

This card is from a pupil to his/her teacher...But I found that the card is very interesting due to its content.  I highlighted some words that I believe teachers should not take for granted.  After 16 years of teaching, I found out that sometimes I was surprised with a lot of things; amazed, could be the right word!  

Smile and smile...it is good for ones health.  A good therapy, I guess.  Personally, when I smile, I believe the whole world will smile with me...Seriously, I would feel good when I smile.  If we smile sincerely to our students, they will also feel good, and accept us with open heart!  Insya Allah.

As a teacher, we should always motivate them, apart from being nice but firm to the students.  This is what I always do in my class on the first day of the school.  I would enter the class, introduce myself and remind my students the rules and regulations to be in my class.  Wow!  Sounds demanding, right?  No....no...then I would have like M.O.U. (Memorandum of Understanding) with the students...

The most challenging part would be to make the lesson interesting...How?!  Learning to teach effectively.  It sounds so technical, right?  I would prefer learning to teach in interesting ways but the ways should be efficient and effective.  Ambitious?!  That should be the way...the principle of my life...

We are not jokers if we make jokes....Yes, it is very true.  When we make jokes, the students would love to listen to us...and they would remember the most!

SO LET'S MAKE THE LESSON INTERESTING, REMEMBER-ABLE....SLOT IN JOKES IN BETWEEN THAT BREAKS INTO SMILES AND LAUGHS....THAT MAKES THE CLASS LIVELY!

But be careful....THE POWER TO CONTROL THE SITUATIONS IS IN OUR HANDS!

Thanks, Mdm Adibah...to make us listen and think...Because a teacher needs to think...A teacher is a thinker...but a thinker is not necessarily a teacher...Alhamdulillah.

Sembelih sifat binatang

SELAMAT menyambut Aidiladha kepada semua muslimin dan muslimat. Takbir berkumandang dan suasana ziarah menziarahi masih rancak diadakan.

Majlis ibadat korban ternakan masih menjadi tarikan terutama kanak-kanak dan remaja untuk melihat dari dekat binatang ditarik, diikat dan disembelih tapi bagaimana pengagihan daging korban berlangsung?

Namun, dalam kemeriahan itu ramai terpaksa menyambutnya dengan perasaan pahit dan ujian banjir, rumah masih bersepah dan berselerak akibat banjir yang menimpa saudara kita di utara tanah air.

Sama-sama kita doakan mereka diberikan kesabaran dan tabah menghadapi ujian Allah itu. Pembaca budiman, disebabkan penulis dari pantai timur, sering kali apabila hendak balik kampung beraya, orang Kuala Lumpur sering kali berkata raya haji di Terengganu dan Kelantan lebih meriah dan 'lebih besar' dari Aidilfitri.

Saya sendiri tidak dapat 'menangkap' apa makna lebih meriah dan lebih besar itu. Jika lihat kepada suasana dan jumlah orang bandar pulang ke kampung nampak tidak seberapa pun, kemeriahan takbir dan ziarah menziarahi biasa saja.

Jemputan ke rumah terbuka juga tidak kedengaran sangat. Tawaran dan jualan murah beli dan belah tiada terpampang manakala tiada juga baju baru dan pakaian baru dipakai.

Macam tidak meriah kerana lagu hari raya pun tidak diputarkan di corong radio tambahan pula cuti raya haji hanya sehari saja. Suasana pada zahirnya kadang-kadang berbeza.

Penulis terpanggil untuk berkongsi idea apa yang lebih besar dan meriah dalam sambutan perayaan tidak kira sama ada Aidilfitri atau Aidiladha.

Sebenarnya dalam Islam dua hari raya itu sangat besar maknanya kerana ia dirayakan bersempena ibadat rukun Islam.

Aidilfitri didahului dengan ibadat puasa manakala ibadat haji mengiringi Aidiladha. Kedua-duanya besar cuma Aidiladha 'lebih' dari sudut falsafah dan tuntutan.
Tetapi kedua-duanya sangat berkaitan. Aidiladha juga dipanggil ibadat korban manakala Aidilfitri ialah 'bersih' iaitu kembali kepada fitrah.

Orang tidak boleh berkorban kalau belum bersih hati dan nurani. Jadi siapa yang berjaya dibersihkan dengan ibadat berpuasa pada Ramadan dulu akan sanggup berkorban bukan saja bahagian korban daging tapi juga berkorban serba serbi untuk ke Makkah menunaikan haji.

Berkorban binatang bukan saja menyembelih binatang tetapi sampai ke peringkat 'menyembelih' sama sifat kebinatangan yang bersarang dalam jiwa.

Jika hari raya puasa jumlah rayanya cuma sehari iaitu satu Syawal tetapi yang menjadi sebulan itu disebabkan adanya rumah terbuka.

Aidiladha pula kerana besarnya pengorbanan yang dituntut, hari raya diwartakan Allah sebanyak empat hari iaitu 10 Zulhijjah diikuti dengan hari tasyrik iaitu 11,12 dan 13 Zulhijjah.

Begitu juga jumlah hari bertakbir untuk Aidilfitri hanya satu malam dan setengah pagi iaitu tidak sunat lagi bertakbir selepas imam selesai baca khutbah raya.

Manakala Aidiladha bertakbir selama empat hari empat malam. Aidilfitri diharamkan puasa hanya satu Syawal saja tetapi Aidiladha selama empat hari diharamkan berpuasa.

Sebenarnya kemeriahan sambutan hari raya bukan diukur dengan memakai baju baru dan bukan juga berapa ramai orang pulang kampung tetapi bergantung kepada jiwa baru, peribadi baru dan akhlak untuk berkorban demi agama

http://www.hmetro.com.my/myMetro/articles/Sembelihsifatbinatang/Article/index_html

Lemons of Life...

I was supposed to write something on my blog yesterday but I could not find the words. This was due to my reading on Cg Syed's blog about RTM (want to know what is RTM? Then you have to go to his blog then).

As usual every Friday, I would browse through a few blogs including the school's blog. But yesterday was the first Friday without Cg Syed's writing. I felt the emptiness there. That made me go through his blog. I did invite him after that as contributor to the school's blog. I waited for his reply but he was very quiet. I guess he was busy. But later late in the evening, I saw his message. He thanked me for inviting him but he said that he should get the permission from the HM first, Cikgu Haji Yusof Karim. Okay...that should be the way, right? Therefore, I have decided to invite him to contribute his writing to my blog...that means here!...Wow! Can't wait for the things to happen...Insya Allah...

I have so many memories with him...that's why, it seems very difficult for me to forget him. Apart from being a very dedicated, committed and responsible headmaster, he was a good listener, a mentor, a counselor...and anything and everything a good person can be...

I still remember the first year he came to the school, I was the coordinator for Year 6. Though it was not the first year as the coordinator, I found that the year was a very challenging year for me. I recalled my public speaking course during my first degree, the title for my public speaking was "How to Overcome Grief". I remember one saying that says 'if life throws you lemons, make lemonade, and drink it with gusto! And live another day to tell others how nice the lemonade was... But when life threw me lemons, did I make lemonade? NO! Instead I turned to cry and cry and cry!

Alhamdulillah...as he admitted during the UPSR post-mortem meeting, that he can read people, their personalities, etc. So I guess that was what he did when he always advised me with all the words of wisdom. The most I remember was that he said only the insane can fulfill everybody's need. Because as a normal human being, it is impossible for me to cater each and everyone's requirement. But I did my best. Still insufficient for those who showed dissatisfaction!...Oh!

At least...I was strong with all the words...the advice that I got from time to time... He was the strength...But one thing that he always advised me that I should turn to Allah...no matter what...because He knows best!

Cikgu Syed...You are One in a Million...

     

It has been three days after the retirement of Cikgu Syed but the feeling of the sadness is still there.  There are times when tears were let roll down the cheeks.  Unbearable, that is the perfect word to describe.

Looking back, I have known him when I was first posted here in Terengganu.  I was close to his wife without me knowing who was he!  What I knew at that time that he was quite but fatherly.  I would say that because every time I was in the house with Kak Pah, he was the one who was going to take care of the children.  Responsible.

He was with the department (In the later year, I got to know that!) before he was transferred to SK Seri Budiman as a headmaster.  It happened my husband was one of the teachers there (In fact, he is still there till now).  There were none of the stories told to me by my husband about his headmaster.  By the way, that is his normal attitude.  But he and his male teachers respected him very much that they would rather keep silent than talking to him.  It was not about liking or not liking him, but it was all about respectful.

I remember one time when I met Cikgu Syed in his former school.  There was a football match between SK Seri Budiman and SK Sultan Sulaiman 1.  My former headmaster was also there.  Trying to be friendly, I greeted them and I told my former HM that I used to linger at Cikgu Syed's house.  He replied me with his smile and words that came out of his mouth were 'Gemuk leni...'.  I was not offended at all with the comment but I was little bit stunned because we had never had any conversation as much as I could remember.  As I mentioned earlier; he was always busy attending to his children rather than talking to me. However, I felt good because I could spend more time talking to Kak Pah; while her husband was taking good care of the children.  Indeed I was very grateful to know Kak Pah who is like a sister to me who had nobody here in Terengganu (it was way back in 1994).

But later...in 2008, he came to my school replacing my former HM who was transferred to another school.  Though been knowing him, but I didn't really 'know' him.  As usual, there were lots and lots speculations made about him...but for me...whoever the headmaster is, I just do my work...

He came to school a week before I had to take Jeremiah to KL for the National Spell-It-Right Challenge.  Before he came to the school, I was worried because I had to take the boy but I did not have any official letter from the department saying that I was allowed to take the boy.  I was asked to go first. But at the same time, I was 'warned' to be fully responsible for the safety of the boy.  Yes!  Indeed I knew about that..but I was a little bit worried because I did not have the official letter from my department; only from the RHB NST.  I was quite nervous when I approached Cikgu Syed and talked to him about this matter.  But to my surprise, he made my work even easier.  I talked to him in the morning and before I went home on the same day, I received the letter from the department.  He told me, he talked to the officer in the department. And this officer faxed him the letter.  Wow!  Tremendous! Congratulations for the job well done!  THANK YOU, SIR....

That is just the beginning of my story with Cikgu Syed...

A Teacher's Story

True or not - who cares, How many times do we "misjudge" by appearance?

Her name was Mrs. Thompson. As she stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first day of school, she told the children a lie. Like most teachers, she looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same. But that was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard.

Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he didn't play well with the other children. His clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath. And Teddy could be unpleasant. It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then putting a big "F" at the top of his papers.

At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review each child's past records and she put Teddy's off until last. However, when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise.

Teddy's first grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners...He is a joy to be around."

His second grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is an excellent student, well liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home is a struggle."

His third grade teacher wrote, "His mother's death had been hard on him. He tries to do his best, but his father doesn't show much interest and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken."

Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and he sometimes sleeps in class."

By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Teddy's. His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper that he got from a grocery bag. Mrs.Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents.

Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing, and a bottle that was one quarter-full of perfume. But she stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist.

Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day just long enough to say, "Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mother used to."

After the children left she cried for at least an hour. On that very day, she quit teaching reading, and writing, and arithmetic. Instead, she began to teach children.

Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class and, despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy became one of her "teacher's pets."

A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling her that she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life. Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.

Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been tough at times, he'd stayed in school, had stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college with the highest of honors. He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had in his whole life.

Then four more years passed and yet another letter came. This time he explained that after he got his bachelor's degree, he decided to go a little further. The letter explained that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had. But now his name was a little longer the letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, MD.

The story doesn't end there. You see, there was yet another letter that spring. Teddy said he'd met this girl and was going to be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit in the place at the wedding that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom.

Of course, Mrs. Thompson did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones missing. And she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on their last Christmas together.

They hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs.Thompson's ear, "Thank you Mrs. Thompson for believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference."

Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back. She said, "Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn't know how to teach until I met you."

Remember - that wherever you go, and whatever you do, you will have the opportunity to touch and/or change a person's outlook. Please try to do it in a positive way.

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Let the Ball Keep Rolling!

This morning, I accompanied my best friend, Pn Nor Asikin to her class, 5 Kreatif.  When we were in the class, I was given my time to talk to the pupils.  As usual, I spoke to them in English Language that makes me the subject teacher.  Starting to promote the blog to them.  I told them that they would be meeting me next year.  In fact they can start meeting me now via my blog....I wrote the address http://pn.yusnitamdyunus.blogspot.com on the board and most of them copied it on the paper...Hopefully, they would be able to visit the blog and gain a lot of things here!

UPSR RESULT IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER!!!

Alhamdulillah...Today in the meeting, we were told that the UPSR Result will be announced most probably this coming November 11.  All sorts of feelings blend together creating unknown and indescribable feeling...that can only be revealed on the day itself...I hope and pray that all the students would get the best out of it...Amin.