When I was asked to work with the fourth grade students at an area elementary school in the area of writing, I was so excited!

Writing and children are both passions of mine, so I felt as if God was opening a door for me to both help my family financially and do exactly what I love.

Little did I know that God had other plans for me in the walls of this school!!

I believe that one of the reasons I was drawn to this school was because God wanted me to meet Miss Fitch (pictured above)! 

I can honestly say that I have never met a more positive, thankful person in my entire life!

I know a lot of positive people.

I know a lot of thankful people. 

But Miss Fitch has moved the bar up so high in both categories that just looking at her picture makes me get tears in my eyes.

Just a few years from retirement, Miss Fitch still teaches with the energy, love, and patience of a first-year teacher.  She lives with her elderly mom who requires care around the clock, and yet she arrives at school all smiles and totally focused on the tasks ahead of her each day.  I have learned so much from her in just a few short months!

When I read the chapter in Choosing Gratitude for this week, and it was all about the importance of actually taking the time to SAY "thank you" to people either through words, cards, or letters, I was struck with the realization that Miss Fitch exemplifies this chapter in SO many ways!  She thanks everyone for the simplest acts of kindness and makes EVERY person who walks in her room feel like royalty.

As God would have it, Miss Fitch and I had a chance to talk on Tuesday and during our conversation she shared about the letter she is holding in the picture above.  One of her students from years ago had taken the time to write her a thank you note and tell her how much she had been influenced by Miss Fitch's positive, encouraging spirit!  This particular student is now a teacher in Frankfort, Kentucky, and gives Miss Fitch credit for being her inspiration even though she was never actually a student in Miss Fitch's room!  WOW!  Now that's an inspirational teacher! 

Miss Fitch had been so touched by the letter that she had framed it and now keeps it in her classroom.

As I thought of all the students Miss Fitch has had the chance to teach over the past 20 some years, it occurred to me that she could have her walls COVERED in letters if more students would have just taken the time to send her a note of appreciation.

In the very same moment I was convicted with the question, "Tammy, how many teachers have you thanked from your childhood?"

Nancy Guthrie, in this week's chapter of our book, encourages readers to send thank-you notes to ministers, neighbors, friends, and others who have impacted their lives in positive ways.

My goal for the month of April is to write at least five thank you notes every week to people who have made a difference in my life.

Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!"

When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed.

One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him-and he was a Samaritan.

Jesus asked,

"Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?"

Who do you need to thank...a teacher, a preacher, a mom, a dad, a neighbor, a brother, a sister, a child, someone you work with....?

Praying we'll all make the time to say "thank you" to someone today either through a phone call, letter, or card.

For tonight, I'd love to say thank you to Miss Fitch for inspiring me as a teacher and to all of you who visit my blog and for each sweet comment you leave.....I love sharing life with you..you have given me a safe place to share My Heart and His Words,