Have you ever really looked at your hands?

[admin]

AN INSPIRATIONAL MOMENT - GRANDMA'S HANDS
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 of 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 thank 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.
-- Author Unknown

[janbear]

Hadn't really thought of my hands in all these ways before, its kewl, my hand also wiped the brow of my father the night he passed.

I, too, want to touch the face of God and feel His hands upon my face.

Also had a visualization of all the hands reaching out in support of each other as we share our experience strength and hope with each other through our keyboards here at CyberRecovery, all the handshakes and hugs across the nations throughout the rooms of recovery. Call me strange, but thats what went through my mind. I love You all.

[admin]

I have actually done this before - looked at my hands and thought about what all I have done with them in my life.

Nowadays with the pain in my elbows, wrists and hands, I wonder if a day will come that I won't be able to use them as well. Right now I have to be so careful when I pick things up so that I don't drop them. My dad's mom had arthritis very bad in her hands. Her fingers were all crossed over each other but she managed to continue on using them - never did I hear her complain. My mom's mother wasn't able to use her right arm when she was old because of arthritis in her elbow. I guess that is what is going on with me - arthritis in my arms and hands but I continue on each day doing the best I can just being more careful.

My thought is when I see Jesus I want to give Him a great big hug and tell Him f2f how much I love Him.