The Hand

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.
"Your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast." Psalms 139:10
"I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand." Psalms 73:23

This story brought tears to my eyes...I CAN'T WAIT TO BE A TEACHER!!

Thankful.

So thankful for life. So thankful for today.

This morning, it is 7am and I am here. I am breathing, my heart beats steadily and I know that he is God. My life is not in my control; as much as I want everything to be in my control, it is not.

Hot cup of coffee and 26 degrees outside puts me in a state of contemplation and stillness. Today I will walk outside and expect to go to class at 8:00am, I will expect to run some errands after class, maybe take a nap or get caught up on homework...but little do I know, my whole life could change in a minute, a second, a flash.

We can go through life pretending like we have it all together all the time, we can plan, we can commit to obligations. Or we can live in the present and introduce ourselves to Eternity that intersects us at every step we take.

Today I dare you to walk with Him. Picture Jesus walking not behind you (past) or in front of you (future), but with you in the present...get to know Him and let him guide you through campus, around your house, through class, maybe common grounds.

"As we read spiritually about spiritual things, we open our hearts to God’s voice. Sometimes we must be willing to put down the book we are reading and just listen to what God is saying to us through its words." -Henri Nouwen