Here’s to all the teachers who told me “No”; to all the ones who gave me B’s and C’s; to all the teachers

who had heartburn because of me and didn’t run away…I am thankful. We are very fortunate to live in a

country where a culture of learning is normal. There are plenty of countries around the world where

school is an option and really only for those who can afford it. That means, the majority of kids don’t get

to learn. There are plenty of other countries where public school isn’t much. They try hard, but the

resources they have to work with are slim. I went to some schools in West Africa where no curriculum is

provided and the only paid person in the building is the Principal. All of the teachers are volunteers and

they have no printed resources to work with. Contrast that with the US. Our children have the

opportunity to start school at age three with Headstart. Kindergarten is mandatory. Almost every child

moves through grades 1-12, with a very low dropout rate (Arkansas’ rate is 3.1). Beyond that, schools

are available for every career imaginable, from trades to law and everything in between. Once a student

graduates the highest level they want to pursue, libraries abound online and in person, where a person

can continue learning until they die. A culture of learning is truly a gift.

I am thankful for the teachers who told me “No” and continue to do so; for the ones who didn’t give me

an automatic A. Those are the places I learned. When I failed and was forced to do the work again, I

learned something about the subject I was studying and about myself. When we learn how much we

need to learn, we take a step forward. It’s a scary position to think we know all we can know and there’s

nowhere else to go. People in that spot are either so prideful no one wants to be around them (know-it-

all’s), or they slip into a deep depression thinking life has no more purpose. Learning is growing.

I am thankful for the teachers who took time with me outside the classroom. Like the teachers in West

Africa, these teachers volunteered to work with me. They weren’t asked to teach me anything. There

was no expectation and no grade at the end of the semester. They just wanted to help me. They saw an

opportunity to give me the gift of learning and they took it. These teachers found me in the church and

opened the Bible to me. They saw me in town and taught me respect. They came alongside me in any

number of chores and taught me how to work. They saw me in my home and taught me how to love

(mom and dad). They saw me in need and taught me how to be generous. They saw me in pain and

taught me how to care. Our lives are filled with teachers. Are you grateful?

Someone told me that all the great leaders in the world have been readers. I took that word to heart

and amassed quite a collection of books. Someone showed me that it’s good to save and not live

paycheck to paycheck. I watched those people live and be able to meet needs at the drop of a hat

because of their savings. I learned the freedom that comes from saving to give. Someone showed me

the joy that comes from serving others. I’ve witnessed so many lives poured out for no other reason

than love for a neighbor. Joy is mine today because so many people took the time to show me where it

is found. If it weren’t for the teachers in my life, I’d be in a mess of trouble!

Can you imagine a world that rejected learning; a world where every potential student said, “Leave me

alone” and every potential teacher said, “I don’t have time”? That is the place where wars are born.

People fight because they don’t know any better. They wrestle with everyone around them because

they think they must in order to survive. A world filled with people who butt heads has no peace or

progress. If you are grateful for both, thank a teacher.