Consider your hands for a moment… They carry your history. Are there scars? Are there rings on your fingers?
Think for a moment of things you have given to others with your hands. And, of course, bring to mind some of the things you have received from others.
Recall times when your hands reached out to wipe away tears, both of sorrow and of joy. When was the last time you held a baby with your hands? Or gently stroked the head and face of someone who was ill or simply needed comfort from you?
What have your torn down with your hands? What have you built up with them?
How will you use your hands to help others today?
[Thanks to Vinita for the idea.]
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{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
Maura 10.01.09 at 11:47 am
One more things our hands do is tie us to our history.
As I get older I see my grandfather and mother’s hands every time I look down at mine. I often wonder if my hands will do as much good as theirs did and do in their lives.
My hands tie me ( in a good way) to my roots. They remind me where I’ve been blessed to come from and remind me how far I have to go.
Eric 10.01.09 at 11:56 am
Among many other things, my hands have held my wife to tell her how much I love her. My hands on a computer keyboard made my living, including supplying the means to raise my daughter and send her to university. My hands did various projects to make our home in California more beautiful and enjoyable. My hands on a keyboard now keep me in communication with distant friends and family. My hands on a keyboard communicate my prayers for others. I am conscious of all of these and give thanks to God for them, especially because it is likely that by this time next year, my hands will no longer be able to do any of this.
Maura 10.01.09 at 4:04 pm
Eric,
You entry made me think. It is strange our hands in so many ways symbolize the things we “do” by which we so often define ourselves. Yet the long list of acomplishments which a life time of work achieves is not necessarily that which God will judge us by. Perhaps it would be helpful for all of us to rethink the work of our hands.
In God’s eyes we are as unique as the prints left by our fingers and our worth is inestimable regarless of the measurements taken by the world around us. Our value lies in the whole hearted response of our hearts manifest thru our best ablities not measured against the works of others. God’s purpose and plan will be different for each one of us.
It brings to mind my youngest sister who had Downs Syndrome and died even befor she turned one. I’ve heard some people say it would have been better if she’d never been born because of the suffering she went thru. Perhaps I’m selfish but frankly I can not imagine the world without her because I know how her hours of joy impacted my family, how her little hand gripping my Dad’s tamed a man with a terrible temper and how some people came back to prayer and God because they were asked to pray for her.
Sometimes the work of our hands it to hold and sometimes to be held. Even though most of us resist being being held we all need to remember that the value of our hands in God’s sight does not change no matter the work God calls us to.
Eric 10.01.09 at 9:15 pm
Maura,
Thank you.
Eric
Linda 10.03.09 at 10:01 am
Reading the comments reminded me of the life lessons my mom taught me. She was a wonderful violinist before she gave that up to raise a family. She taught herself to play the organ and became the music minister and liturgist at our church. She directed the choir with the beautiful sweeps of her hands. As she battled osteoporosis, her body added rheumotoid arthritis to the mix. I watched her give up her tremendous gifts as she lived her last years and realized the lesson that we are about giving it all up and back to God … not an easy journey but the means to amazing life everylasting basking in light and love and God … making awesome music forever. Thanks, mom, my life teacher.
Paul 10.06.09 at 2:23 pm
Maura,
What a perceptive comment. Now you’ve got me looking at my hands to see if they remind me of either of my parents! No echoes so far…
Paul
Paul 10.06.09 at 2:24 pm
Eric,
Your comment is poignant in the extreme. I admire your courage and your determination to hold fast to your faith in all of this.
Paul
Paul 10.06.09 at 2:26 pm
Maura,
Your response to Eric’s post is so real and grounded. I am consoled by your wisdom and insight. I especially appreciate your final paragraph about how sometimes it is right for us to hold and at other times we need to be held. Well said.
Paul
Paul 10.06.09 at 2:28 pm
Linda,
Your commentary on how your mother had to cede her gifts back to God moved me deeply. As you say, it is “not an easy journey” but I hope and pray that for each of us it will be meaningful and, ultimately, worthwhile.
Paul