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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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!

[MEG33]

Foggy? Been there in California! Sweet picture, Dita.

[MEG33]

That’s a shame! I love your snow pictures.

[MEG33]

;o)
Sounds like you have had a busy day, (((GeeBee)))!

[Aquamarine]

Beautiful Post Billie, love the design.

Have been out of town AND had company over the past week. Missed everyone!

[dutchess]

Hi billie. What a lovely story. Perfect for a Warm Fuzzy Wednesday and I just love the hands graphic. Thanks for putting a smile on my face :o)

[Lady Jag]

Thanks. I've missed some excellent photos, like Mr. Cardinal mocking my lack of camera yesterday.

This isn't this storm but similar. The goldfish pond out back.

[luvie]

LOL! He’s soooo cute!

Glad you enjoyed the tuneage! :D

[GodBlessUSA]

Good Evening (((Meg)))
How are you? I hope you had a good day. Another week is flying by. It’s already going to be Thursday.

I heard a Great Horned Owl the other evening. It was neat. Booboo saw it fly by the deck the night after. I of course, missed seeing him/her. :)

[GodBlessUSA]

You always play good tunage :) Such cute pictures with the songs!

[GodBlessUSA]

That’s such a gorgeous winter scene Lady Jag.

I was so disappointed not to get any snow from that storm Sunday/Monday. You were hit with a lot of snow from it?

[La Enchiladita]

Speaking of California and otters, did you ever visit Morro Bay on what we call the Central Coast here? It is a great place to go for tide-pooling, observing marine life and shore birds. The otters love to hang out in the bay and are fascinating to observe. I have to go back and check out your otter post...hehe.

But, cute as they are, they are not warm, fuzzy. They can pack a mean bite.

[jaycee]

I sure am late in checking in but “things happened”. At lunch, warning of bad weather coming tomorrow and Friday so I went to the grocery store. Just needed a few things and everyone knows how that is!!

I loved “Grandma’s Hands”....brought a tear or two. My mom had short stubby fingers and used to hate her hands and always added “these hands have done an awful lot of hard work”. And they had done that for sure. I was fortunate that I got my dad’s hands, longer fingers and have always been able to grow long nails. Red Hat lady asked me one day “Are those your real nails?” I like to paint my nails also and usually keep them painted (BUT I DO A LOT OF HARD WORK)!
I wear gloves of course because if I don’t my fingers get splits in them and hurt very bad!

Loved your thread and the Pledge is so pretty...thank you, Billie~~~~

[jaycee]

Absolutely adorable, Conor! I would take one like that!

[jaycee]

WooHoo, Luv.....they’ve got that jive!

[jaycee]

Isn’t that sweet? Poor baby, its afraid~~~but very brave!

[La Enchiladita]

I just watched the cute vid and the news story. Otters are unique in the way their skin is constructed, so that the guard hairs form a dense thermal pattern as they do not have a layer of fat under that.

Here is another cute (river) otter pic:

[jaycee]

:}

[jaycee]

Now that is quite a picture! Darling~~

[jaycee]

Well, Megs, I stopped here and watched the two video clips. They are so darling and it was nice reading the story about it.

[jaycee]

How adorable! My son had a beautiful black lab and her name was Velvet. She got in some weed killer tiny pellots and the vet tried to save her for about two days and they finally had to put her down. We all loved her...sweetest dog in the world!

How are you, Dita??