The
Whisper
Recently,
I heard a touching story that illustrates the power that words have to
change a life—a power that lies right in the hands of those reading this
article.
Mary
had grown up knowing that she was different from the other kids, and she
hated it. She was born with a cleft palate and had to bear the jokes and
stares of cruel children who teased her non-stop about her misshaped lip,
crooked nose, and garbled speech. With all the teasing, Mary grew up
hating the fact that she was “different.” She was convinced that no
one, outside her family, could ever love her ... until she entered Mrs.
Leonard’s class. Mrs. Leonard had a warm smile, a round face, and shiny
brown hair.
While
everyone in her class liked her, Mary came to love Mrs. Leonard.
In
the 1950’s, it was common for teachers to give their children an annual
hearing test. However, in Mary’s case, in addition to her cleft palate,
she was barely able to hear out of one ear. Determined not to let the
other children have another “difference” to point out, she would cheat
on the test each year. The “whisper test” was given by having a child
walk to the classroom door, turn sideways, close one ear with a finger,
and then repeat something that the teacher whispered. Mary turned her bad
ear towards her teacher and pretended to cover her good ear.
She
knew that teachers would often say things like, “The sky is blue,” or
“What color are your shoes?” But not on that day. Surely, God put
seven words in Mrs. Leonard’s mouth that changed Mary’s life forever.
When the “Whisper test” came, Mary heard the words: “I wish you were
my little girl.”
Author
Unknown – Thanks to Steve for this one!
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