“Long before I grew up, my teddy bear taught me what love really meant — being there when you’re needed.”

This quotation, attributed to a writer named Jim Nelson, perfectly describes the important role teddy bears play in our lives, no matter how old we are.

They are a natural source of comfort and amusement and often provide the feeling of security we remember from our childhood.

Teddy bears are the most popular stuffed toy ever created, and that was more than 120 years ago.

Many folks are familiar with the oft-told story of the teddy bear’s origin.

In November 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt participated in a bear-hunting expedition.

To make his hunt easy, other members of the hunting party tied a small black bear to a tree but the president refused to shoot it and instead ordered the bear released.

Roosevelt did not think shooting a tethered bear was good sportsmanship or challenging.

This scene was portrayed in a political cartoon drawn by Clifford Berryman of The Washington Post, and his newspaper cartoon soon captured the imagination of the public.

The teddy bear became a symbol of the well-liked president, “Teddy,” and thus began a love affair that is still very much alive today worldwide.

Why? What is the strong animal magnetism of the teddy bear?

According to the late British actor Peter Bull, who loved and collected teddy bears and wrote a book about them, the lure may be the comforting effect they have on people’s lives.

Examples abound. Doctors often use teddy bears to explain scary operations or treatments to children.

Psychologists frequently have a teddy bear in the office to help adults remember childhood traumas or simply to provide comfort to clients.

Law enforcement personnel have used teddy bears when interviewing children about disturbing events.

During World War II, the London Fire Brigade had a teddy bear as a mascot.

The bear was kept with the brigade while they worked during the Blitz, and teddy suffered burns on his feet as a result.

Also in Great Britain during World War II, citizens were required to carry gas masks at all times in case of an air raid.

To make this piece of wartime equipment less frightening for children, often their masks were decorated with teddy bears.

Some families even made small gas masks to protect their teddy bears.

These cuddly bears brought comfort and security to an intimidating situation.

British land and water speed-record holder Donald Campbell refused to drive unless his mascot, a teddy bear named Mr. Whoppit, was with him in the cockpit. Journalists dubbed the little bear Campbell’s “magic talisman.”

During a violent speedboat crash in 1967, Mr. Whoppit survived and floated to the lake’s surface immediately.

Campbell was not that fortunate.

His body was finally found 34 years later.

Worn, matted, even soggy fur and split seams just make a teddy bear more precious.

My main bear (I have many) has been with me for 67 years, through decades of highs and lows, joys and sorrows.

Tattered and patched, Ted looks his age.

But he’s always there when I need him.

Ted knows me better than some humans do. And he is great at keeping secrets.

I have seen teddy bears in the caskets of adults.

In both cases, the women wanted their treasured bear friends to keep them company in the grave and spend eternity with them.

Teddy bears also can provide comfort to the bereaved.

Memory bears fabricated from a garment of the deceased bring solace to grieving family members.

I have one created from my mother’s pink robe.

In today’s fast-paced high-tech society, it is reassuring to know that so many children and adults still cherish the low-tech, fuzzy teddy bear.

Here’s hoping your favorite teddy continues to provide endless hugs and late-night protection from the shadows.