On Thanksgiving Day, the first grade teacher gave her class some fun homework—to draw a picture of something for which they were thankful1. Most of them drew pictures of turkeys or
tables with food. The teacher was surprised at Douglas picture—a hand, nothing else, just an empty hand.
But whose hand is it? The class was attracted2 by the abstract3 drawing. “I think it must be the hand of God that brings us food,” said one child. “A farmers,” said another, “Because he raises the turkeys.” After discussing for a while, the children backed to their seats to go on drawing. Then the teacher bent over4 Douglas desk and asked whose hand it was. “Its yours, Miss Smith.” Douglas said in a low voice.
She recalled5 that during the breaks she had often taken Douglas, a short child, by the hand. She often did that with the children. But it meant so much to Douglas. Perhaps this was everyones Thanksgiving, not for the material6 things given to us but for the chance, in whatever small way, to give to others.
感恩節(jié)那天,有位小學(xué)一年級(jí)的老師給同學(xué)們布置了個(gè)有些有趣的作業(yè)——讓同學(xué)們畫出他們感恩的東西。班上的大多數(shù)同學(xué)畫了一桌豐富的感恩節(jié)佳肴,或是一只香噴噴的火雞。但是當(dāng)老師看到道格拉斯的作品時(shí),他驚訝不已,上面除了畫一只手沒有其他的東西!
這是誰(shuí)的手?班上的小朋友都被這幅抽象畫吸引了,“這一定是賜給我們食物的上帝的手?!币粋€(gè)小孩說道?!笆寝r(nóng)夫的,因?yàn)槭撬曫B(yǎng)了火雞?!痹谝魂囌?wù)撝螅∨笥褌冇峙芑刈焕^續(xù)畫畫。這時(shí)老師走到道格拉斯的桌旁,彎下腰問他那是誰(shuí)的手?!澳鞘悄氖?,史密斯老師?!钡栏窭沟吐暬卮稹?/p>
老師回想起來,道格拉斯個(gè)頭矮小,課間時(shí)她總會(huì)過去牽牽他的手。她常這樣握住孩子們的手,但對(duì)道格拉斯而言,意義格外重大。也許這就是每個(gè)人過感恩節(jié)的意義,不在于收受他人給予的有形物質(zhì),而是借此機(jī)會(huì)回饋他人,無(wú)論那是多么微小的付出。