The Greatness of Gratitude

All of us have been blessed by the help, support, and kindness of another person. We often feel grateful for those who encourage us. But do we also feel gratitude for those who challenge us—those who quietly push us to grow?

I learned an important lesson about gratitude many years ago.

Shortly after graduating from college, I returned to Nashville to visit my wife’s family. One evening we went to see a movie at a theater where we used to spend time as teenagers. As we approached the entrance, I recognized a man walking out with his wife. It was my high school calculus teacher, Mr. Binkley.

Mr. Binkley was a quiet and unassuming man whose demeanor could only be described as calm and deliberate. He spoke slowly, carefully choosing each word. For a subject as difficult as calculus, his measured approach required us to pay close attention. He was not going to command the room with excitement or theatrics.

His most memorable lesson was on integrals. He walked into the classroom, said nothing, and simply began writing diagrams and equations on the board. Then he pointed to each step of the process. The entire class period passed without a single spoken word.

Yet he had our full attention.

I didn’t fully appreciate his teaching style until years later, when I was studying chemical engineering and taking advanced mathematics courses in college. The discipline he required in his classroom—paying attention, thinking carefully, concentrating deeply—prepared me for the much greater difficulty I encountered later.

When I saw him outside that movie theater, more than seven years after taking his class, I eagerly introduced myself again, unsure whether he would remember me.

He did.

I told him that I had gone on to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemical engineering. Then I thanked him. I explained that the way he taught calculus had prepared me well for the rigorous coursework that followed.

As I spoke, I could see the satisfaction in his expression. I don’t know how many former students had returned to thank him over the years. But in that moment, my words seemed to matter deeply.

I will always be grateful that I had the opportunity to express my gratitude to Mr. Binkley.

Many of us have experienced the influence of a Best Boss or teacher in our lives—someone who shaped us in ways that endure long after the moment has passed. Their impact often extends far beyond what they realize.

Whether we express it in the moment or years later, gratitude has the power to complete the circle. It reminds others that their efforts mattered, that their quiet investment in us made a difference.

That is the greatness of gratitude.

It lifts everyone involved.