by Steve Goodier
At first it sounded like a Thanksgiving story, but the more I
reflected on it, the more appropriate it seemed for any time of the year. The
way I heard it, the story went like this:
Thanksgiving Day was near. The first grade teacher gave her
class a fun assignment -- to draw a picture of something for which they were
thankful.
Most of the class might be considered economically
disadvantaged, but still many would celebrate the holiday with turkey and other
traditional goodies of the season. These, the teacher thought, would be the
subjects of most of her student's art. And they were.
But Douglas made a different kind of picture. Douglas was a
different kind of boy. He was the teacher's true child of misery, frail and
unhappy. As other children played at recess, Douglas was likely to stand close
by her side. One could only guess at the pain Douglas felt behind those sad
eyes.
Yes, his picture was different. When asked to draw a picture of
something for which he was thankful, he drew a hand. Nothing else. Just an empty
hand.
His abstract image captured the imagination of his peers. Whose
hand could it be? One child guessed it was the hand of a farmer, because farmers
raise turkeys. Another suggested a police officer, because the police protect
and care for people. Still others guessed it was the hand of God, for God feeds
us. And so the discussion went -- until the teacher almost forgot the young
artist himself.
When the children had gone on to other assignments, she paused
at Douglas' desk, bent down, and asked him whose hand it was. The little boy
looked away and murmured, "It's yours, teacher."
She recalled the times she had taken his hand and walked with
him here or there, as she had the other students. How often had she said, "Take
my hand, Douglas, we'll go outside." Or, "Let me show you how to hold your
pencil." Or, "Let's do this together." Douglas was most thankful for his
teacher's hand.
Brushing aside a tear, she went on with her work.
The story speaks of more than thankfulness. It says something
about teachers teaching and parents parenting and friends showing friendship,
and how much it means to the Douglases of the world. They might not always say
thanks. But they'll remember the hand that reaches out.
Steve Goodier's books &
newsletter: http://LifeSupportSystem.com.