Short and sweet thought for the week…
I’ve heard it said that eyes are the window to our soul, but hands tell our story. I think there is some truth there which becomes even more evident as we age. Some read palms to tell our future, but actually our hands hold the key to our past. They show where we’ve been and what we’ve done.
Smooth, nail-polished hands are lovely, but so are the ones that are wrinkled, calloused, or arthritic. They’ve survived life’s adventures and trials, and lived to tell the tale. Each hand has a unique set of fingerprints. Each hand has a unique story to tell. Some hands tremble a bit; others seem steady and sure. However, all hands can be welcoming, forgiving, and comforting.
Loving hands are the best and have no cosmetic requirements to be considered beautiful. Loving hands will bandage scraped knees, hug the bereaved, place a cool cloth on a feverish brow, sew a doll’s dress from scraps, hold others up when they are weak, bake a pie for the potluck, bring flowers to the ill, slip a dollar bill to the homeless, hold crying babies, care for ailing parents, drive a neighbor to a doctor’s appointment, or fold together in prayer for those too weary to even pray for themselves.
God shows His love for us by writing our names in the palms of His hands (Isaiah 49:16). The most loving hands of all belong to Jesus. The image of His nail-scarred hands should strengthen our faith. They could not have been pleasant to see, but revealed a story of redemption, grace, and love for us.
“Put your finger here; see my hands…Stop
doubting and believe.” ~John 20:27 (NIV)
