Alfred's Bear-Proudly displayed in my room for the past 16 years.

     The holidays are always a special time for teachers, especially when we receive precious gifts from our students.  For me, this small stuffed bear has always been one of my most treasured gifts...

     I remember being in my classroom the day before the holiday vacation.  My students were coming in, all bright-eyed and excited for Christmas.  Some of them were giving me gifts, and I was opening them with a big smile on my face and lots of hugs.  It's always a pretty chaotic morning in my classroom on the day before vacation.  All of a sudden, I noticed Alfred standing by my desk watching the commotion.  Alfred was a fifth grader, and was my student the year before.  He was a very quiet, kind boy, and a great student.  Alfred had come by my classroom to bring me a gift.  I had never received a gift from a former student before, and I could tell from the look on his face that he couldn't wait for me to open his present.  I carefully and excitedly opened the gift that Alfred had obviously wrapped by himself.  Inside was a little black bear stuffed animal.  Alfred's face lit up when I opened it- he was so proud of this little bear!  It was then that I read the card he had attached.  It said the following, "Dear Mrs. Monks, I wanted to get you a present so bad last year, but I wasn't able to. But this year, I could!   You are the best teacher ever.  Love, Alfred."  
     I can't even begin to express how humbled I was at that moment.  To think that this precious boy thought about me and chose this gift especially for me just filled my heart with such joy.  He told me that he had been thinking about getting me a gift this Christmas ever since last Christmas.  The joy in Alfred's eyes as he watched me open up his gift will be something that I will always hold dear to me.
    It was 16 years ago that Alfred walked into my classroom and showed me, in that moment, the true meaning of Christmas, and I have never forgotten it.