5/8/09

I Loved my Mother's Hands!



My family asked me this week what I wanted to do for Mother's Day.  I said to relax, enjoy the beautiful weather, plant some flowers, and to spend quality time with my family.  

I don't need fancy or glamorous gifts.  
I don't need a long list of how to make memories with my kids.  
I don't want to overcomplicate what should be a joyous day.  
I just want to keep it simple.

** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **   

This post from last year keeps it all in perspective ...

This week I was walking down the aisle of a local store when my eyes caught view of a woman, maybe in her late 60s, walking hand in hand with a woman in her 90s. They were walking very close to each other, in a very endearing way

I just knew they were mother and daughter. They each had a look of devotion in their eyes.

A pang went through my heart. Not only was this sight beautiful, but it also made me miss my mom, terribly.  (My mom has been gone almost 12 years now, from cancer.) Oh, how I’d love to hold her hand as we walked down the aisle of a grocery store. 

I always loved my mom’s hands

We’d talk about the ridges in her fingernails, which I am now getting in mine. 

Mom’s hands were always busy in the kitchen cooking for her family or for guests. I think about my hands as I prepare for many dinners in my home. 

Mom worked the garden soil and canned. I’ve followed in her steps. 

She had a love for children, using her hands to prepare weekly Sunday school lessons, year after year. I love my Balcony Girls


We both have tied aprons around our waists as we geared up for giving out. 

We both have loved our husbands and families, deeply. 

We both have taken Motherhood very seriously, as God’s highest calling

And I see how God has used us both – by using our hands.

As I turned to my daughter,
Do you mind if I hold your hand right now?

Sure Mom, she answered back.

So we walked through Fred Meyer, holding hands

She didn’t care and I didn’t care.

I came across this beautiful picture of my Mother giving her mother a hug, back in 1978. I could feel through their body language and glowing facial expressions a life of love and devotion. I know that my Mother felt the same way about her mom, as I do for her.

Even though Mom and Grandma are both gone now, I can’t help looking back at their love and zest for life – both contributing to this world by reaching out to others.
Their hugs were real. There was no guile or deceit in the way they lived their lives.

Hugs and hand-holding have become real to me. They’re ways of reaching out and touching the one you are with. 

As I find myself walking alongside older friends, who are involved in my life, I realize that they stepped in at the perfect time - to be there for my family and me. If you saw them today, they’d each tell you that I occasionally will grab their hand, and hold it tight

I’ve learned to love their hands, almost as much as I loved my own mother’s. (And these special ladies I sent cards to, to tell them how much they mean to me!)

Thank you God, for these women's hands.

And thank you Abby, for letting me hold your hand, just this week.

And for my boys, who never say no, when I reach for their hand! 



Thank you God, for the gift of Motherhood!

Reach out and grab a hand this Mother's Day.  Study the hand and think about the influence it's had on your life!

(Photos: Mom and Grandma Dubs in 1978; Coming home from the hospital with newborn, “Abigail.” I love how this picture shows each of our hands!)

Partial reposting from last year.

What about the April Balcony Girls lesson?  Because of the timeliness of Mother's Day, and the gifts that we made, I couldn't post about it until after Mother's Day.  We just couldn't ruin the surprise!  Stay tuned ...

37 comments:

Melanie said...

Sandy, what a heartfelt tribute to your mother.
Thanks for posting the beautiful pictures...glimpses into your life.
Melanie@Bella~Mella

Farmgirl Cyn said...

My own mom has been gone 10 years now...I miss her as much today as I ever have. Mother's Day is especially hard....those that still have their mom's....seize the day.

Melissa @ The Inspired Room said...

Aw, that is really touching and inspiring, Sandy! I enjoyed your post and your photos. Treasured moments!

xo Happy Mothers Day!

Gina said...

What a beautiful post! There's so much I love about my mom, her hands are for sure one of them. And I often think of my grandma, when I do her hands come to mind. Through them she showed us love and grace and wisdom.

Now, I need to go find my little gals and grab those cute pudgy hands....

Laura said...

I am crying as I am writing this.
My mother has been gone 13 years and somethimes I miss her so much it feels like all of the air has been sucked out of my body.

Thank you for sharing this.

Laura

whitespraypaint.blogspot.com

Jen - Balancing Beauty and Bedlam said...

Precious Sandy - using our hands all to glory of Him!

Jen - Balancing Beauty and Bedlam said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
The Crowder Family said...

I don't recall how I stumbled onto your blog, but I just adore it and read it daily. This is probably one of my favorite posts! I love it, and I appreciate you sharing it!
Happy Mother's Day!

Sandi @the WhistleStop Cafe said...

I see your smile in your mother. What a wonderful tribute!
I remember mom's hands too~ and their gracefullness and their strength.
thanks for the smile

Kim said...

What a beautiful message and reminder for all of us! Have a wonderful Mother's Day with your family!!

Becky said...

What a beautiful post!

Happy Mother's Day!

GranthamLynn said...

Beautiful post. I love holding my daughters hand. Or hooking my arm through hers. Hard to do right now. She has a 1 year old that is either on her hip or mine! Thanks for sharing your thoughtful loving heart.
Hugs and Blessings,
Sherry

leigh ann said...

This brought tears to my eyes. I catch myself so many times being annoyed with my Mom....and I'm ashamed. My Mom doesn't live far from me and so many people don't even have their mothers around, and I squander all those opportunities...why? I owe it to her and my daughters to get over myself! Thank you for this reminder!

Ginny said...

I wept as I read your entry. My mother died in 1999, and I miss her so much I can hardly stand it. I know exactly what you mean about your mother's hands. I look at my hands, and I see my mother's all over again.
What a beautiful tribute to your mother.

sarah @ A Beach Cottage said...

truly touching Sandy, I enjoyed your tribute

great post

Sarah

Carol said...

Your beautiful post brought tears to my eyes. My mother has been gone 12 years & I miss her more & more with each passing year.
Enjoy your Mother's Day!

Blessings,
Carol

Gwynie Pie said...

How very sweet! Beautiful ! My mother is still living and sometimes (too often) I find myself wrinkled up and feeling a bit crossways with her. This was a great reminder to me to just enjoy her while we are still here. Thanks for your wonderful blog --- I read it every time and love it.

Gwyn Rosser
The Pink Tractor

Joy said...

What a wonderful tribute, I miss my mom so much... she passed last August.. this will be my first Mothers Day with out her... I don't like it at all.. she also passed of cancer.

OKGardners said...

I totally understand. I loved my Mom's hands, too. This year is a significant year for me. I have spent 32 years of my 64 years without my MOM. Half my life. Not an anniversary of joy, of course.

Keep that hand holding going. They never get too old to NEED their hand held. Keep it up!

Betty in Oklahoma

Kirstin said...

Sandy, That is so beautiful. I too miss my mom and am reminded of it everytime I see a mom and daughter together. My youngest is a big hand holder and I love it. Whenever she's walking side by side with us, she just reaches out and grabs our hands.

Next week I have the wonderful privilege of my moms mom coming to visit for 2 weeks. She is 80 and I cannot wait. I hope to make homemade raviolis with her. She is such a wonderful woman, it's like having my mom here.

I was noticing my oldest daughters hands one day and realized that she has my moms hands. Beautiful hands with long, graceful fingers.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful, Sandy. Your mom sounds like she left a legacy of godly motherhood for you to share with your daughters. Nothing is more beautiful! Happy Mother's Day, mama!

K :) said...

Wow, tears streaming down my face and all I can think is...that is exactly how I felt about my mom's hands. You summed it all up beautifully in your post...as always! Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Sarah said...

This post brought tears to my eyes. Thank you is all I can say!

Smelling Coffee said...

Beautiful! Your whole post was just beautiful. God bless you this Mother's Day, Sandy.

Ms. Tee said...

What a sweet tribute to your mom. Thank you for sharing it! Happy Mother's Day to you!

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality said...

How sweet, Sandy, I still have my mother so can still enjoy her (hands and all). She has knarled fingers now, but still stays busy doing all she has always done. Mamas are so special. I will be devestated when she is gone.

Happy Mother's Day, dear friend!

Marci said...

What a lovely tribute~

Heather said...

Thank you for this beautiful post. My mom just went to be with the Lord this past December. I am struggling with deep pains of missing her this Mother's Day weekend. I needed this. Blessings, Heather

Anonymous said...

My daughter has been gone for 20 months and it seems as if it was just yesterday we were talking about our hands - we shared the same shape - and she always told me that I had magic hands that made her always feel better. This is a beautiful posting and thank you for the memory it brings to me.
April

Mary @ Neat and Tidy said...

My mom lives in a nursing home with late third stage Alzheimers; she doesn't know me. Often when I sit with her, I look at her hands (or the hands of other residents), and I think of the babies they held, the meals they prepared, or whatever and how they are totally there for the receiving now instead of the giving.

You had a beautiful post; Happy Mother's Day to you.

Jen said...

Great post...I was looking at my moms hands this morning in church. So many things she has been through.

Unknown said...

Sandy,

You are such a refection of your mother's love. I lost my mother last May and it has been tough.

Cynthia

grace said...

let's see: goosebumps, chills, tears in my eyes. and a warm heart. lovely post, sandy!

Shannon said...

Sandy, this was absolutely beautiful. I thought with a pang about women like you yesterday, who must surely be especially missing their moms. I don't take for granted, for even a minute, that I still have mine. Thank you for the reminder of this special blessing.

Kim H. said...

Sandy,

You have a beautiful blog -- I'm sure I'll be back!

It's funny you posted about your Mom's hands. I love my Mom's hands -- the soft, yet bumpy veins on the tops of her hands. I remember as a kid I could trace them for hours. I think the memory of a Mom's hands is a wonderful gift from God.


Hope you had a beautiful Mother's Day!

Betts said...

What a beautiful post. I often tell my daughter how much I love the feel of her hand in mine. We hold hands a lot just because it feels good.

Anonymous said...

That's a beautiful article.Really heart touching.I can feel the beauty of every relationship that's described.
Awsome
Eliza
Baby Clothes