感恩的手 感恩的心
Sometimes we need to remind ourselves that thankfulness is indeed a virtue.
有时候我们需要提醒自己，感恩实际上是一种美德。
—William Bennett 美国著名教育家 威廉·贝内特
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.
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。
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.
班里大部分学生因为家里困难不会庆祝圣诞节，但还有不少准备做烤火鸡和传统的时令小食来庆祝这个节日。老师想，这些东西大概基本上就是她的学生要画的东西。事实上的确如此。
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.
可是，道格拉斯画了一幅与众不同的画。平时，他也是一个与众不同的男孩。在老师眼里，他是个很不幸的孩子，常常被人欺负，整天愁眉苦脸。课间其他孩子都在玩的时候，道格拉斯多数就站在她的身边。没人知道小道格拉斯那双悲伤的眼睛后面藏着什么样的痛苦。
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.
是的，他的画确实与众不同。当老师叫他画一幅画，关于他最想感激的东西，他只是画了一只手，一只空空的手。
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.
他这幅抽象的画让同伴们纷纷议论起来。那是谁的手呢？其中一个孩子说，那是一位农夫的手，因为大家吃的火鸡是农夫养的。另外一个小孩则说，这是警察叔叔的手，因为警察叔叔保护大家的安全。还有人说这是上帝的手，因为上帝需要我们。大家都说个不停，老师也几乎忘了画的小作者本人。
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."
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，那是您的手。”
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.
她这才回想起，有时她会像对别的学生一样，牵着他的手一起到这儿，去那儿。她说过多少遍：“拉着我的手吧，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“我们一起来做这题目吧。”而道格拉斯最感激的，正是老师的手。
Brushing aside a tear, she went on with her work.
老师感动得落下了泪，可她很快就擦去了，继续上课。
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.
这个故事说的不仅仅是感恩。它告诉我们，老师的教导，家长的养育和朋友的情谊，对生活中许许多多的道格拉斯们是多么的重要。或许，他们不会总能说一声谢谢，却一定会记得别人给过他们的帮助 ---- 那些曾经向他们伸出的手。
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[English]感恩的手 感恩的心