感恩节临近了，有位一年级老师给班上的学生布置了一项有趣的作业——画出他们想感谢的东西。

当孩子们接着做其它作业时，老师在道格拉斯的桌旁停下来，弯下腰问他那是谁的手。小男孩眼望别处怯怯地说：“老师，那是你的手。”

她回想起，有时她会像对其他学生一样，牵着他的手一起去这儿，到那儿。她常说：“拉着我的手，道格拉斯，我们走到外面去。”或者“让我教你怎样拿铅笔。”又或者：“我们一起来做这件事吧。”而道格拉斯最感激的正是老师的手。

Sometimes we need to remind ourselves that thankfulness is indeed a virtue.

—William Bennett

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 students’ 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.

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