On 11/22/07, steve doyle <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Hi Steve,
This was good. It is just those little gestures that mean so very very much. Thanks, Sherri > THE HAND > > 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. > > lr smiles > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ 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 -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
