These Hands

As I was snapping a few pictures at Thanksgiving, I did a close-up of mom and dad carving the turkey. I’ve learned that you never know what pictures will be the ones you end up loving. Mom said, “What can you do with a picture like that?” I gave her a few reasons – such as I might want to make a post on my blog about “These Hands”. So here it is mom.

These hands held me in the first few minutes of life. I’m sure they touched my ears, my nose, my little feet and yes, even my little hands as they marveled at the miracle of life.

My mother was very devoted and I can imagine her gently bathing me and then when she was all finished rubbing baby powder or baby lotion all over me. Of this one thing I’m sure of, I was tenderly cared for, my tummy filled when I was hungry and my little bottom kept clean and dry in its cloth diapers.

As I grew older there were the times I felt a good squeeze from these hands or the sting when she smacked me. Ow! But there were also the times when I’d go to her in the middle of the night with growing pains and she would gently rub my legs till I could sleep again.

Though it seemed like forever, it was only a short space of time and I was having my first child. These hands, now older, were washing my baby’s clothes, ironing them and keeping my household going while I recuperated. Each of them received their first bath from these hands because she just had a way about her. With my mom’s gentle ministrations they would hardly fuss, but when I tried, it didn’t work out so well for me.

These hands labored to sew clothes for my family when I was desperate for a certain item or when I would start an Easy 1-2-3 project and then be lost trying to complete it. They took care of my mending pile because I wasn’t too good about getting it done.

These hands skillfully handle the needle as they work at the lost art of embroidery. Tea towels and quilts are their forte and no one could do it better.

Yes, these hands have been faithful to the calling God placed in mom’s heart to be a mother.

TThey’ve been faithful to wash, scrub and clean in her 54+ years of marriage.