One day, a teacher asked her students in class to write the names of the other students on a piece of paper. "And leave space between each name," she instructed.
When they finished, the teacher said, "Underneath each name, I want you to write the good things you see in that person." Immediately, the kids busied themselves with the task and took the whole class to finish it.
The teacher took the papers home and collated the material. On one piece of paper per child, she wrote all the positive qualities written by their classmates.
On the next class, she handed out the papers to the kids. They were very happy to read the letters. "Wow, am I really this person?" some of them gushed.
Many, many years later, the teacher received a phone call. One of her former students, who had become a soldier, was killed in battle. Would she want to attend the funeral?
She went and saw many of her former students condoling with the bereaved family. As she stood beside the coffin, looking at the lifeless body of a young man in uniform inside, a middle-aged woman approached her. "Are you my son's grade school teacher?"
"Yes," she said, "you must be his mother. My deepest condolences."
"I'd like to show something to you," the mother said. "My son had this inside his wallet when he died." She pulled out a worn-out piece of paper. It was obvious that it had been folded and unfolded many times.
Even before it was opened, the teacher already knew what it was. It was the piece of paper that contained the list of positive qualities his classmates saw in him. Kept and read all through the years.
By that time, her other students had gathered around both of them.
A young man beside the teacher said, "Uh, I carry mine wherever I go too."
A woman from behind said, "I still keep mine. It's in my diary."
Another man said, "I display my list on my desk at home."
Another woman said, "It seems like all of us kept that paper all these years!"
The teacher was moved beyond words.
Why would a simple piece of paper mean so much?
Because here's the truth: Life can be rough. At various time, it can even be cruel. Every time we fail, every time we receive criticism, every time we get rejected, we doubt our worth. We doubt our goodness.
We are very desperate for love.
We need to love the saint within us.
Friend, love yourself.
Each day, celebrate your positive qualities. Celebrate your goodness. Celebrate your beauty.
Thank God for how wonderful He made you.
Love the sinner and the saint within.
May your dreams come true,
I love you.
(Story from the Chicken Soup series)
