Saving Lives (Suicide - Robbery - Prostitution)
A beloved teacher, Miss Wooldridge was dead. She lay
in her linen-lined casket. Friends said the usual things: "She
looks restful". "She is so beautiful". Her cheeks
had been made pink. A white collar framed her face in elegant
repose. Friends and former students said they would keep her
memory in their hearts in perpetuity.
Ms. Rohrer stood quietly in the back. Ms. Rohrer
was a teacher. Ginny, a former student spotted her. "Ms
Rohrer, I have something to tell you. You saved my life. I
was obsessed with thoughts of suicide." Digging deep in
her purse she pulled out a wrinkled, worn piece of paper. Ms.
Rohrer had described the SPECIAL STRENGTHS she had recognized
in Ginny. Years passed. However, Ginny kept the slip of paper
with the precious words.
A young man heard the fuss. He pulled out a piece
of paper from his wallet. He told Ms. Rohrer that he had kept
it in his pocket as a constant reminder of the strength it gave
him. "My fantasy was robbing banks. Your reminder of my
SPECIAL STRENGTHS showed me a better way".
In low voice, another student told Ms. Rohrer that
the written recognition of SPECIAL STRENGTHS is in my diary.
"I felt my only strength was sex for sale. Your words
assured me that I was better than that. Thank you for saving
my life. My diary will be passed on from generation to generation".
Ms. Rohrer whispered to the group of students surrounding
her, "You can save lives. Take time to recognize each student's
SPECIAL STRENGTHS".
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