“He took the children in His arms, placed His hands on them, and blessed them. ~ Mark 10:
Hands that have prayed, played, worked, and given possess
profound beauty. Often, they speak louder than words.
They wipe away tears,
soothe sore muscles, and show loving affection. We use them to cook a meal, pick
flowers, and repair things. The distal appendages at the ends of our arms,
which grasp, manipulate, and communicate, are key to our passion and fulfillment.
They reflect our age,
lifestyle, and experiences. Hands tend to age faster than other parts of our bodies.
Wrinkles, calluses, and scars, while viewed by some as flaws, can also serve as
badges of honor, telling stories of a treasured life.
Angie (52) loved her
hands. They taught her children to count: 1, 2, 3, ... on their fingers and
thumbs, and also helped them grip the monkey bars at the elementary school
playground. Later, she would teach them how to catch a ball properly and give a
firm handshake.
When labor begins, mothers
often require support, prayer, encouragement, and physical presence to endure each
contraction. A midwife’s job is to keep the energy in the room positive. She
places her hand on the mother’s shoulder and whispers that everything is going perfectly;
that she’s safe, respected, and supported.
Then she places her
hand on Mom’s chest and begins to breathe and pray with her until her anxiety
dissipates, grounding herself through each contraction with intention. In just
a few minutes more, a healthy baby is safely born into Angie’s loving hands.
The midwife sees a
purity to the infant’s love, given and received. Her eyes are drawn to the baby’s
tiny hands, like jellyfish, opening and closing. She knows in that moment,
without a word said, that she’s witnessing first-hand God’s precious gift and
immediately loves this child like every other.
Despite our hands’ variety
and complexity of movements, we usually take them for granted, accepting them
as simple mechanical aids. Jesus’ hands were no different, likely rough and
calloused from carpentry and stone work.
But His touch was
gentle; the Holy Spirit’s power flowed through each finger. He used His hands
to heal the sick and marginalized and to multiply food for the hungry masses. They
washed the Disciples' feet, illustrating humility and service. Even His
nail-pierced hands represent sacrifice for our sins and His unconditional love
for us.
Which begs to
question: How will I use my hands? Will I use them to write notes of inspiration,
to embrace those who are hurting, to provide for my family and church? How will
I honor our Father with the work of my hands?
Holy Father, "Use my hands, use my feet, to make Your kingdom
come. To the corners of the earth, until Your work is done." (Lyrics
of the song "Follow You" by Leeland, sung by Brandon Heath)
