A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....01-16-08....Warm Fuzzy Wednesday ~ Grandma's Hands

[Billie]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

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A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

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 voice strong.

"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 u p, 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.

03-27-07 ~ Hall of Fame #19 ~ Final

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 01-14,15-08 Military Tribute

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' Every Thursday at the Finest The guy's good, folks!

[jaycee]

Me,too! :) ((hugs))

[JustAmy]

Thanks, Meg. PrissyMissy wants us to take all the puppies. : )

Sorry that I disappeared for awhile.

PrissyMissy has a virus of some kind. I sent her to school today after she stayed home on Monday and Tuesday. The school didn’t call me but I checked her temp about an hour after she got home and it was up to 101 again.

[prayin4_swcb]

Hi there,
Please tell PrissyMissy that ‘My Great Big Kid’ thought the pics of her with the the puppies were really cute and so did I.

Hope she gets to feeling better soon. Give her a hug and a smooch from both of us, okay? Maybe one of these days soon we can make it down for another FReepin’!
Sorry we didn’t make it to the Christmas Dinner this year....had company from out of state for Christmas and we were trying to get our remodel finished up before they came.

(((Hugs)))

[prayin4_swcb]

I’m hoping that you will still get this. Poor little Chachi.....just know that I’m praying for him and the Mama Bear and the Papa Bear also. I know how hard on Momz and Popz when their fuzzy ‘lil kidz are hurting. I hope and pray the the surgery goes well.....who knows maybe they’ll get him in there and find out he’s all healed.....God love and heals our fuzzy kidz too, ya know.

((Hugs)) for you both......

[The Mayor]

January 17, 2008

Designed By God

ODB RADIO: Listen Now | Download

READ: Romans 12:3-8

We have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function. —Romans 12:4

Bison are made in such a way that their natural inclination is to look down; the design of their necks makes it difficult for them to look up. In contrast, giraffes are designed in a way that makes looking up easy; the way their necks were made makes it difficult for them to look down. Two creatures created by the same God but with distinctively different body parts and purposes. Giraffes eat leaves from branches above. Bison eat grass from the field below. God provides food for both, and neither has to become like the other to eat.

As we observe the animals and people around us, we’re reminded that God made each of us unique for a purpose. One person’s natural tendency is to look up and see the “big picture,” while another looks down and focuses on details. Both are important. One is not better than the other. God gave us individual talents and spiritual gifts so that we can work together as a body.

Human beings are the crowning jewel of creation, and we shine the brightest not when we see our own likeness reflected in others but when each of us performs the unique functions that God designed for us to do. “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them” (Rom. 12:6).

By God’s wise designing
We are wonderfully made,
Every part essential
And in perfect balance laid.  —Anon.

There are no unimportant members in the body of Christ.

Bible in One Year:  Genesis 37–39; Proverbs 6:20-35

[Billie]

How cute those squirrels are! The one on the left must be Taylor Hicks - playing that harmonica. :)

[Billie]

Good morning - a day late, but good morning, Spinner, and thank you for those lyrics to “Grandma’s Hands” - a lot of living can be seen in the hands of our grandparents.

[Billie]

Gosh, I love these kinds of warm fuzzies!

[Billie]

Thank you for our daily devotionals, Rus.

[Billie]

LOVE that bluebird!

[Billie]

Good morning, Billie. We are preparing to take Chachi up to Sacramento for back surgery scheduled for tomorrow afternoon. We are just tied up in knots over this, but it has to be done and we have found a top-notch veterinary neurosurgeon who will be doing the surgery. It's in God's hands and the surgeons. As a mutual friend said...."God, and a great vet.....can’t beat the combination. : )"

Oh, Lori, I am so sorry it's come down to the surgery. You, Jeff, Chachi will be in my prayers that the little guy's back problems won't reoccur. Surely his young age will be a major plus in speedy and total recovery. I just hate to hear this news. :(

[Billie]

Hi, there Miss Kitty, and thank you for your sweet post and that adorable bunny wabbit picture!

[MEG33]

;o)
Are we having warm fuzzy Thursday?

[Billie]

Too sweet, Dita - I’m loving seeing dogs and kittens in a close, loving relationship. I know they can get along - too many people have both. :)

[Billie]

Morning, Dave - glad you liked the post today. Agree, lotsa warm memories. :)

[Billie]

Thank you, GeeBee. It was a “must-do” post. I can’t remember what I did or didn’t do now that triggered the bottom of the last table to be cut short, but at least it wasn’t a glaring color change!

[DollyCali]

Late for the party .. but not too late it appears as JH2 is still not chatting at us..

Thank you Billie for this great thread. I too received the email & you presented it so well.. Love the pledge also. Funny in FIrefox I could not read it as it was black lettering on the dark background. Went to IE & it was white/readable. It seems on my computer Firefox distorts a lot of the colors. One of the last threads I posted at Firefox looked pretty good. When a few hours later I looked at it at IE, it was NOT properly formatted & the colors appeard differently. Not sure if this is the way it should be or if I have some sort of corruption in one or both programs

I have been doing a lot of graphic work for church. We meet in a movie theater & the worship/sermon is full of big screen material.

Interesting for that all must be huge files & the top pixel resolution. When I send material for comments, review etc a pix that I would post here at 100 or less kb w/jpg is 18,000kb in a png file.

It is quite different seeing your material on a HUGE theater screen than on a computer monitor. believe me!

If they ever had time I would love to bring some of my pix to just look at a slide show on big screen.

I do have my video debut this Sunday on big screen. There will be no cosmetic editing I am pretty sure.. drat. Will let you all know how it turns out.

[dutchess]

It's Thursday at the Finest...please join us HERE

[Billie]

Love those three “hands” pictures, GeeBee. Thank you for posting them.

[Billie]

Hey there! Nice to see you again. Doing fine - I hope you are!