The Hand

[Guest guest]

T H E H A N DThanksgiving Day was near. The first grade teacher gave her class a funassignment -- to draw a picture of something for which they werethankful.

Most of the class might be considered economically disadvantaged, butstill many would celebrate the holiday with turkey and other traditionalgoodies 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 differentkind of boy. He was the teacher's true child of misery, frail andunhappy. As other children played at recess, Douglas was likely to stand

close by her side. One could only guess at the pain Douglas felt behindthose sad eyes.Yes, his picture was different. When asked to draw a picture ofsomething 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 handcould it be? One child guessed it was the hand of a farmer, becausefarmers raise turkeys. Another suggested a police officer, because the

police protect and care for people. Still others guessed it was the handof God, for God feeds us. And so the discussion went -- until theteacher 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, " Takemy hand, Douglas, we'll go outside. " Or, " Let me show you how to holdyour 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 aboutteachers teaching and parents parenting and friends showing friendship,

and how much it means to the Douglases of the world. They might notalways say thanks. But they'll remember the hand that reaches out.-- Author Unknown

__._