My Hands

My hands are old. Perhaps the rest of me is too. I remember when my granddaughter sat on my lap and played with my hands saying, “I can make a map on your hands. I see rivers and mountains on them!”

I was only about 75 years old at that time. I wonder what she would do with my hands now that I am 93. Today I am thinking about how our bodies and change and how much these old hands have changed and what my hands have had to do all these years,

These hands have gone to school with me and written many papers and tests. These have gone from writing class, learning when to use capital letters and when not, to college papers and exams. Come to think about it, I don’t believe schools have those writing classes anymore. I hated all those circles we had to draw. Anyhow, those papers have been written all throughout my life.

These hands have lit the candles on a Christmas tree and have gone with me walking in the snow, holding hands with my loved one. These hands have cooked dinner on a wood stove and washed clothes using a washtub. They have used an old sewing machine, only I imagine my feet did most of the work! These hands have cleaned the soot out of our oil lamps too.

These hands have raised four children and have blessed them both in spanking and in love. My hands have put tiny seeds into the ground praying they will do what seeds are made to do. In the fall I have taken these fresh vegetables into the house and canned them so we could taste them in the wintertime.

These hands have brushed away many tears from my eyes as they have watched two babies and two husbands leave me for their heavenly homes. These hands have sewed many dresses and shirts and knitted many sweaters so I could know my kiddies would be warm in our northern midwestern winters. I have even painted many oil and acrylic paintings.

My hands still work. They have written and published a book and have had the joy of taken care of two grandchildren. These hands have learned a new art form, Painting with pencils. I don’t know if they really enjoy that, but they certainly know much about using an eraser!

I have no regrets for the long journey these hands have taken me. The Lord’s hands have led me all of the ways. One day, He will reach out and take me and my hands all the way to eternal life, and so I say, thank you, Lord, for my hands.