POEM
GRANDMA'S HANDS
Author Unknown
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 voice strong.
"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 held my husband and wiped my tears when
he went off to war."
"They have been dirty, scraped and raw, swollen and bent. They were
uneasy and clumsy when I tried to hold my newborn son. Decorated
with my wedding band they showed the world that I was married and
loved someone special."
"They wrote my letters to him and trembled and shook when I buried
my parents and spouse."
"They have held my children and grandchildren, 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
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.
When you receive this, say a prayer for the person who sent it to
you, and watch God's answer to prayer work in your life. Let's
continue praying for one another.
Passing this on to anyone you consider a friend will bless you both.
Passing this on to one not yet considered a friend is something Christ
would do.
I GOT THIS FROM AN EMAIL FRIEND AND THOUGHT IT WAS WORTH
PASSING ON. ENJOY AND BE BLESSED.
Kat
Author Unknown
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 voice strong.
"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 held my husband and wiped my tears when
he went off to war."
"They have been dirty, scraped and raw, swollen and bent. They were
uneasy and clumsy when I tried to hold my newborn son. Decorated
with my wedding band they showed the world that I was married and
loved someone special."
"They wrote my letters to him and trembled and shook when I buried
my parents and spouse."
"They have held my children and grandchildren, 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
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.
When you receive this, say a prayer for the person who sent it to
you, and watch God's answer to prayer work in your life. Let's
continue praying for one another.
Passing this on to anyone you consider a friend will bless you both.
Passing this on to one not yet considered a friend is something Christ
would do.
I GOT THIS FROM AN EMAIL FRIEND AND THOUGHT IT WAS WORTH
PASSING ON. ENJOY AND BE BLESSED.
Kat
