As a retired teacher who knows how hard and under-appreciated teachers are, today I want to express my gratitude for my teachers. So many teachers who influenced my life and helped me to understand what I wanted to be when I grew up and then helped encourage me along the way. One very special teacher was my Spanish teacher in high school, Señora Mary Smith. She was an elderly lady who loved the Spanish language and culture and showed it in her eyes, her movement and her enthusiasm. She told me that I had a natural gift for languages and encouraged this very shy girl to come out of her shell some, at least in her class. She recommended me for a summer institute of languages at the University of North Carolina, my first real extended time away from home. There, I spoke only Spanish for six weeks and made a lot of new friends. I also had a professor who snapped his fingers at me, trying to get me to speak Spanish in a more clipped way. Dr. Zayas-Bazan went on to write a Spanish textbook that I used in teaching a college class. I can still remember his snapping his fingers and telling me to speak more quickly. With my southern drawl, that was a challenge, but a fun one. I remember my college professors, like Dr. Stephenson, who told me that I should apply to live in the Spanish house, which I did during my sophomore and senior years. Later, I found out that she was the one who recommended me for Phi Beta Kappa, a total surprise for me when I got the invitation letter. Because of these special teachers, I majored in Spanish, teaching it for over thirty years and falling in love with the culture, just as Sra. Smith was. There were other teachers in other subjects, of course, who pushed me to do my best and to be more than I thought I could be. So, today, think of a teacher who has been your mentor, your role model, and your encourager. Say a silent thank you for that person that God placed in your life. Jesus was the first teacher and He taught each of us how to teach others. I’m glad that I had the opportunity to teach; I count that as one of the blessings of my life and pray that I was a blessing to my students just as so many of my teachers were to me.

Photo courtesy of slideshare.net

Have a blessed and thankful Thanksgiving, my friends!