~ Hands ~

"Dare to reach out your hand into the darkness,

to pull another hand into the light".

~Norman B. Rice

Have you ever considered the endless facets
of which hands do
every second of the day?

My hands.  Your hands. Those around you  - everywhere.
Heaven's hands.

Giving hands
loving, caring, soothing.
 Hands of service
unselfishly administering without a second thought.
Meals shared. Hands of embrace.
 Unconditional comfort.
Physical and spiritual nourishment.

Working hands

awakening in the dark, quiet hours of the morning
before dawn has unveiled her face,
and until the sun surrenders
with nature's pallet streaked across the sky
into its final slumber.
Providing. Laboring. Hammering. Measuring.
Cooking. Cleaning.
Washing. Folding.
Packing lunches. Making beds.
Teaching. Nurturing. Disciplining. Preparing.
Hands that button.  Zip.  Tie.
Hands that bathe giggling babies.
And brush through long locks of shiny innocent hair.
Hands clasped in sincere prayer.
Hands with extraordinary talent in all myriads of life -
sharing their gifts with the world
for us to partake - with joyful spirit.
This list is endless.

Hands of Love

Hands that wipe tears -
Caress.  Encourage.  Support.
Hands that clap for inexpressible joy!
Hands laced through that of another. 
Hands held in quiet solitude ...
just because.
Hands of unity - wedded for eternity.
Hands that tenderly cradle a newborn baby
still lingering with heaven's scent.
Hands of sincere loving concern
for the well-being of another ...
those we already know -
and those of a stranger.


Let us ever be mindful and never cease to forget

His Hands

Healing. Lifting.
Touching other questionable hands
when no one else would.
Hands of guidance.
Hands of gentleness.
Hands of teaching.
Hands of patience.
Humility.  Obedience. 
Hands reaching upward to Heaven,
in prayer and supplication
for our wandering souls.
Masterful, powerful hands to calm a mighty,
violent thrashing storm -
yet
Tender, and gentle enough to
bless children - the lame - the blind - the deaf -
the lost ones.
Hands with the deepest searching of compassion.
Hands of unquestionable love
for every single last soul.
Understanding.  Heaven's perception.  Unconditional.
Hands of thy Father's will.
Hands that beckon with divinity:
"Come Follow Me."
Hands of Mercy.
Hands of sacrifice.
Hands of suffering.
Hands of unequivocal forgiveness.
Hands of eternal life.
His hands reach far beyond our
finite comprehension
of even a fragment of
His Love -
unremitting, without end.


Let us embrace
hand in hand today ...
all of the
offerings

of those around us
as well as ours giving hands
extending - reaching - embracing
unselfishly ... unconditionally ...
in remembrance of
His,
to pull another hand from the darkness
into the Light.