Hi Steve, I like this one. It just goes to show that we can all use the hand of friendship. Thanks for sharing. Original message: > THE HAND > 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.
> A single candle can illuminate an entire room. A true friend lights up > an entire lifetime. Thanks for the bright lights of your friendship. > -- Email services provided by the System Access Mobile Network. Visit www.serotek.com to learn more about accessibility anywhere. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Access the Recipes And More list archives at: http://www.mail-archive.com/recipesandmore%40googlegroups.com/ Visit the group home page at: http://groups.google.com/group/RecipesAndMore -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
