doojable Posted January 12, 2007 Share Posted January 12, 2007 I usually don't pass stuff like this on, but it seemed to strike me as pertinent. I do happen to look at hands a lot so it meant a lot to read this. It was one of those internet "pass it on" type of letters - so you may have read it already. GRANDMA'S HANDS 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 strong voice. "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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johniam Posted January 12, 2007 Share Posted January 12, 2007 Neat. I remember a Bill Withers song called Grandma's hands or something like that. Wonder if it was along the same lines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmiller Posted January 12, 2007 Share Posted January 12, 2007 Dooj -- thanks. Gives one cause to pause and think. Much is taken for granted, until examined closer. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrtyDzn Posted January 12, 2007 Share Posted January 12, 2007 How many of you looked at your hands? Did you move on to your feet? Jerry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mstar1 Posted January 12, 2007 Share Posted January 12, 2007 Grandma's Hands Bill Withers Grandma's hands Clapped in church on Sunday morning Grandma's hands Played a tambourine so well Grandma's hands Used to issue out a warning She'd say, "Billy don't you run so fast Might fall on a piece of glass "Might be snakes there in that grass" Grandma's hands Grandma's hands Soothed a local unwed mother Grandma's hands Used to ache sometimes and swell Grandma's hands Used to lift her face and tell her, she'd say, "Baby, Grandma understands That you really love that man Put yourself in Jesus hands" Grandma's hands Grandma's hands Used to hand me piece of candy Grandma's hands Picked me up each time I fell Grandma's hands Boy, they really came in handy She'd say, "Matty don' you whip that boy What you want to spank him for? He didn' drop no apple core" But I don't have Grandma anymore If I get to Heaven I'll look for Grandma's hands I always loved the song--- HERES an old video of the song, which unfortuantely is of low quality Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SafariVista Posted February 3, 2007 Share Posted February 3, 2007 That is beautiful Dooj... thank you :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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johniam
Neat. I remember a Bill Withers song called Grandma's hands or something like that. Wonder if it was along the same lines.
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dmiller
Dooj -- thanks. Gives one cause to pause and think.
Much is taken for granted, until examined closer. :)
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DrtyDzn
How many of you looked at your hands? Did you move on to your feet?
Jerry
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mstar1
Grandma's Hands
Bill Withers
Grandma's hands
Clapped in church on Sunday morning
Grandma's hands
Played a tambourine so well
Grandma's hands
Used to issue out a warning
She'd say, "Billy don't you run so fast
Might fall on a piece of glass
"Might be snakes there in that grass"
Grandma's hands
Grandma's hands
Soothed a local unwed mother
Grandma's hands
Used to ache sometimes and swell
Grandma's hands
Used to lift her face and tell her, she'd say,
"Baby, Grandma understands
That you really love that man
Put yourself in Jesus hands"
Grandma's hands
Grandma's hands
Used to hand me piece of candy
Grandma's hands
Picked me up each time I fell
Grandma's hands
Boy, they really came in handy
She'd say, "Matty don' you whip that boy
What you want to spank him for?
He didn' drop no apple core"
But I don't have Grandma anymore
If I get to Heaven I'll look for
Grandma's hands
I always loved the song---
HERES an old video of the song, which unfortuantely is of low quality
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SafariVista
That is beautiful Dooj... thank you :)
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