And I thought I was tired yesterday! Father, thank You for the strength to make it through everything today. Karen and I were very productive today and even though I am just sitting down to write, You have been on my mind. May our time be productive. Amen.
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As I was getting ready to get cleaned up this evening, I looked at my hands. I had washed them before supper but the labors of the past couple of days did not wash readily away. I have handled black mulch at church and my in-laws’ home. I have had them totally covered in tacky, wet sand from an outdoor project at home.
They are not the hands of youth but not the hands of the aged…yet! They are worn. They are stained. When I first looked at them after they got wet, the stains outlined every single wrinkle!
They are feeling the beginnings of arthritis. The skin at the bend of my right thumb is split, making it tender. I have had carpal tunnel surgery on my right hand and at some point, I will have to have a bone removed from the base of my left thumb.
My hands are well used. I am blessed to have them. And I pray that they continue not just to be used for my benefit but for the benefit of God’s Kingdom. I truly want my hands to be used for His glory.
Right now, I sit here after a hot shower and they are much cleaner and they don’t hurt too much at the moment but are joyously typing away! The Lord has inspired me and I am writing with my hands, about my hands!
Before sitting down, I was pondering these many things and a song from my youth came to mind. It was written in 1976 by a man named Ray Hildebrand. I heard him sing at a youth congress – the same event where I heard Michael Pitts (see Bird on the Wing). The song was simply entitled Hands. Here is the chorus:
Hands, lift up your hands, you can give
Hands, lift up your hands, you can help out, you can reach out
To people all over the world, people all over the world
With your hands, yes you can, reach out with love
We are called to use what we have to help out and reach out…and most importantly reach out with love.
Lord Jesus, use every part of me to impact the “people all over the world” for You and Your glory! Amen!
June 12th, 2019, Wed, 9:42 pm
