These old hands

Have you ever looked at your hands--I mean really looked at them, and realized how faithfully they have served you as tools, helping you create a portrait of your existence, and how they helped you reach out and embrace the facets of life as you travel through the framework of time?

Ever since our first breath. our hands have been the most versatile part of our body, waving frantically if we were distressed or disturbed. They served as a brace as we endeavored to make our first steps and softened the blow when we lost our balance and came crashing to the floor, then helped us to our feet for another trial at navigating our way through this complex world.

Before we were aware that there was such thing as a vocabulary, our hands were speaking a language all their own, as they reached out to grasp the desirable morsels of life, and pushed aside that which did not appeal to us. These hands soon became agile enough to put food in our mouth, to tie our shoes and button our shirt. When we started school, our hands learned to write, making it possible for us to record the events of our daily life, and communicate with others that were not within range of our voice. Our hands learned to design, construct and create objects that would become an integral part of our lives. We felt the wave of emotion as we held the hand of that dear friend, and with a handshake we consummated that binding promise of a business deal.

Now I take another look at these old hands; though wrinkled, shriveled and weak, there is a lifetime of memories in these old hands, as they bear witness as to where I have been and the ruggedness of life. They have been dirty, scratched, scraped, blistered and swollen; yet they continue to serve me. They are the hands of a person who has experienced the many wonders of life, wonders that younger hands may eventually encounter.

These hands were uneasy and clumsy as I used them to hold my newborn, great-great-grandson. They lovingly held my wife of 63 years and wiped away the torrent of tears as she departed this life.

Now, in the twilight of my life, I fold these hands in prayer and trust that God will reach out and take these hands in his as he leads me to my heavenly home.