Grandma, some ninety plus years, sat feebly on the patio bench. She didn't move, just sat with her head down staring at her hands. When I sat down beside her she didn't acknowledge my presence and the longer I sat I wondered if she was OK.
Finally, not really wanting to disturb her but wanting to check on her at the same time, I asked her if she was OK. She raised her head and looked at me and smiled. Yes, I'm fine, thank you for asking, she said in a clear strong voice.
I didn't mean to disturb you, grandma, but you were just sitting here staring at your hands and I wanted to make sure you were OK I explained to her.
Have you ever looked at your hands she asked. I mean really looked at your hands?
I slowly opened my hands and stared down at them. I turned them over, palms up and then palms down. No, I guess I had never really looked at my hands as I tried to figure out the point she was making.
Grandma smiled and related this story:
Stop and think for a moment about the hands you have, how they have served you well throughout your years. These hands, though wrinkled, shriveled and weak have been the tools I have used all my life to reach out and grab and embrace life.
They braced and caught my fall when as a toddler I crashed upon the floor. They put food in my mouth and clothes on my back. As a child my mother taught me to fold them in prayer. They tied my shoes and pulled on my boots.
They dried the tears of my children and caressed the love of my life.
They wiped my tears when my husband went off to war. They have been dirty, scraped and raw, swollen and bent.
They were uneasy and clumsy when I tried to hold our newborn daughter.
Decorated with my wedding band they showed the world that I was married and loved someone special. They wrote the letters home and trembled and shook when I buried my parents and spouse.
They have held children, consoled neighbors, and shook in fists of anger when I didn't understand. They have covered my face, combed my hair, and washed and cleansed the rest of my body. They have been sticky and wet, bent and broken, dried and raw. And to this day when not much of anything else of me works real well these hands hold me up, lay me down, and again continue to fold in prayer. These hands are the mark of where I've been and the ruggedness of my life.
But more importantly it will be these hands that God will reach out and take when he leads me home. And with my hands He will lift me to His side and there I will use these hands to touch the face of Christ.
I will never look at my hands the same again. But I remember God reached out and took my grandma's hands and led her home. When my hands are hurt or sore or when I stroke the face of my children and husband I think of grandma. I know she has been stroked and caressed and held by the hands of God. I, too, want to touch the face of God and feel his hands upon my face. In Love,to Your Mother,Sister,Aunt, Or just a plain old Friend.your friend in gardening.Mike57
* * * * No One Can Make You Feel Inferior Without Your Consent. Plants: 722 | From: alabama | Registered: Nov 2004
| Seeded: 216.170.153.142
* * * * We are all under the same stars... therefore we are never far apart. Plants: 30076 | From: Washington, the state that is... | Registered: Aug 2004
| Seeded: 66.235.45.83
posted
Thanks Mike while reading that I could see my 91 year old Mother's hand's. Like the story now weak and wrinkled but you know something they are still pretty hands at least to me. Jimmy
* * * * Meet Clyde my Male Sugar Glider. Clyde says. Keep it organic GOD BLESS THE U.S.A. Pray for our Troops!
posted
I immediately thought of my mother's & grandmother's hands. Hadn't thought about it before reading this, but I can remember sitting with them, holding their hands and examining them...my mother's hands were very tiny and dainty (but packed a pretty darn good wallop when needed!) But when I think of all that those 4 hands acomplished...it is overwhelming! I miss them both so much! Thank you fro revibng such sweet memories Our Friend in gardening...Mike57!!!
~V~
* * * *
Happiness, like a dessert so sweet. May life give you more than you can ever eat... *** *** Plants: 7034 | From: The Land of JOY | Registered: Apr 2004
| Seeded: 71.143.160.201
posted
mike, thanks so much for posting that. that really makes you think doesn't it? speaking of hands there's a man at my church and he doesn't have fingers. he has 2 nubs on each hand that are like claws. you'd be amazed at the things he can do and accomplish without having hands. he went up in front of the church one day and preached and gave such a good sermon of how God has always helped him through the torment that others have put to him just because he was different and how God helped him and is still helping him to do the things that people with fingers don't think that he can do! he is so strong willed! thanks again for sharing that mike
login | 
| 
| 
![[tears]](graemlins/crying.gif)
![[clappy]](graemlins/claps.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[lala]](graemlins/lala.gif)
![[thumb]](graemlins/thumb.gif)
![[kissies]](graemlins/kissies.gif)
***
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this garden