Fan Fiction: Pollyanna, Crutches, Gratitude--a rewrite of a famous scene.

Pollyanna sat in stillness, her gaze fixed on the crutches propped against the wall. They were far from the gift she had imagined, something playful or bright that might bring a smile to her face. Instead, they were these wooden supports—useless to her own healthy limbs and yet given to her as a present. Disappointment washed over her, and she made no attempt to hide it.

Her father, noticing her downcast eyes, spoke softly. “My dear Pollyanna, it’s all right to feel disappointed. Even for people of faith, the first step is to name our feelings honestly. Yet remember that every gift—even one we don’t expect or understand—carries a meaning that gratitude can unveil.”

Pollyanna tilted her head. “But Father, how can I be glad about something I don’t even need?”

A gentle smile crossed his face. “Gratitude,” he replied, “is not just about what we want or what serves us. It’s about seeing the love of the giver and trusting that, in god’s providence, even an odd or unwanted gift can be part of a greater plan. These crutches remind us of the strength and health you possess—blessings we tend to overlook. More than that, they point to a deeper calling: that in god’s design, we’re asked to offer our lives in thanksgiving for others.”

She blinked. “Offer our lives, Father? I’m not sure I understand.”

He nodded kindly. “It means gratitude isn’t just a feeling, but a response to love. It’s at the very heart of how we live with god. In every blessing, and even in every burden, we’re invited to join him in transforming the world through acts of compassion. These crutches might not be for you at all—they may be a sign of the burdens other people carry. They remind us that we’re called to help shoulder those burdens. Think of the Eucharist, Pollyanna: we bring to god our joys, worries, and yes, even our disappointments, and offer them back in thanksgiving. Through Christ, such offerings become grace.”

Pollyanna glanced back at the crutches, as though they held a mystery. “So, I should be glad—not just because I don’t need them, but because they show me how blessed I am… and how I can help others?”

Her father’s eyes shone. “Yes, my dear. But there’s more still. These crutches invite you to trust. When a gift seems strange or unwanted, we can remember that god is working in ways we may not grasp. Through the cross, Christ revealed that what appears to be loss can become the very doorway through which love enters. These crutches, like many gifts in life, fit into the great story god weaves. To say ‘I’m glad’ is to say, ‘I trust you, Lord. Thank you for all you give, even what I don’t understand.’”

Her fingers brushed the crutches lightly, as though sensing something sacred beneath their wooden frame. “I will be glad,” she murmured, “not just for me, but for others… and for god’s purpose.”

Her father’s face glowed with a serene pride. “That is the heart of thanksgiving, my child. It goes beyond what we receive, reaching into how we live out our gratitude. In Christ, even the simplest object can become part of the greatest work: god’s redemption in the world.”