Being a blogger means that there is always something I can be doing in preparation for another blog post, or for revamping the look of the blog, or for future scheduling, or in social media, or reading other bloggers.
So when my husband has to go away on business trips I know that all of those things plus other family, and friends and church activities will keep me busy and I will not really miss him all the time.
However this last time he went away, I found that I was missing him a lot.
Now the strange thing about it was that I missed his hands.
A few different times I would suddenly picture his hands in my mind and I just missed not seeing them and holding them.
Of course I did naturally miss the things he would do for me around the house.
And I did sort of miss the things he would do that often make me smile - playing the guitar, playing the keyboard.
But mainly I missed his hands.
I missed not seeing them each day.
Maybe it was because we can face time (even when he is in Morocco or Azerbaijan) and so I can see his face even when he is away but don't normally see his hands while we chat.
But whatever the reason it really struck me as odd that I missed his hands.
Then I was drawn to think back to one morning in church when the message was on the hands of Jesus.
How practical his hands were.
Considering all the things He did with His hands.
The hands of Jesus were often the instruments of His Blessings.
- He placed His hands on children to bless them and on others.
- He placed His hands on lepers to heal them.
- He used His hands to break the bread and fish before feeding the 5,000.
- He used His hands to pull Peter out of the water.
- He placed His hands on the funeral bier to raise the son of the widow of Nain.
In church we sometimes sing a kids chorus called "Jesus' hands were kind hands"
Fred's hands have not been used in all of those situations but they have been used to help me and others and comfort me and they hold mine each morning as we pray together.
I am thankful for Fred's hands.
Some of the things Fred's hands have been used for to help and encourage me:
- To Praise God
- To play the guitar
- To play the piano or keyboard
- To read the Bible
- To pray with me
- To show me the beauty of God's Creation (he knows more about nature than I do)
- To make me coffee each morning
- To help our grown-up children with practical things
- To lift down things from high shelves for me
- To drive me about when my foot is painful
- To hold and carry heavy objects for me
- To help to keep our grandchildren safe
I am thankful for Fred's hands.
We are all thankful for the hands of Jesus.
BUT
We need to be the hands of Jesus at different times for one another.
Hi Sandra, how blessed we are to hold the hands of our husbands as we pray.
ReplyDeleteI will visit you at `For What it's Worth`
Yes it is a blessing, thanks Michelle
DeleteI enjoyed reading this post! I guess I've never really thought too much about how Jesus used His hands to bless others. btw - My hubby and I still hold hands whenever we're out and that's after 38 years of marriage.
ReplyDeleteOh Debbie glad to hear of another couple still holding hands after all these years - 37 for us at the end of this month
DeleteThis is so beautiful! Really beautiful. Missing your husbands hands and making the connection to the work of Gods hands is so heartfelt. I have been wanting to write a post on being grateful for our hands. You have given me the impetus needed. Thank you for linking this up to #thankfulthursday. xS
ReplyDeleteGo for it Sarah, and write it from your heart.
DeleteYour post has really made me think about how valuable our hands are, they do so much!
ReplyDeleteHello Eva nice to meet you and yes valuable in a great way
DeleteI was very encouraged by both my husband's hand and how the hands of Jesus saved me last year, when My last baby was born. The prayers of many many people world wide. putting there hands together to pray.
ReplyDeleteIt is lovely to hear about the work of Jesus in your life. Prayer is so important
DeleteHands truly are powerful tools.
ReplyDeleteIndeed they are, and so important that it is always for good.
DeleteHands are beautiful. They offer comfort,and bring creativity into a home. Holding hands will always be one of my favorite things to do in life.
ReplyDeleteYou know Pamela, it's nice to think of comfort and creativity at the same time. Plus holding hands is just so touching
DeleteVery sweet post. I was just looking at my husband's hands the other day and thinking of how I cherish them. Thanks for sharing at Fridays Unfolded!
ReplyDeleteAlison
Nancherrow
that's another lovely word to go with all the others about hands. Cherish.
DeleteHands are very special and can do so many things--creative, loving, giving, also unkind things. I believe they are connected to, and are expressions of a soul.
ReplyDeleteHi there I do agree that they show the outworking of how we truly feel
Deletewell, when he plays the guitar and keyboard he is using his hands... {:-D
ReplyDeleteYes and sometimes I just stop and look at them. I'm so glad Fred can use his hands in so many positive ways
DeleteBeautiful post, Sandra. I love my husband's hands...sometimes I look at them and I think of ALL he does for me and our son. How hard he works and how he does every, single act with utmost love and care for us. So blessed we are...you and me...to have husbands we love and respect and who love and respect us back. God is good! I enjoyed this post. :)
ReplyDeleteCheryl I love the different words you have used here, love, care and respect.
DeleteOur two restful chair are side by side as we watch TV and often we reach over and hold hands - Hands are important to give a pat on the back, a neck rub, hug and rub on back at same time, and helping out with the dishes or cooking. What a lovely thought to miss your hubby's hands while he is away. Thank you for sharing your lovely post with us here at “Tell Me a Story.”
ReplyDeleteOh Hazel you are adding even more uses of hands and indicating great expressions, thank you.
DeleteWhat a special post for your husband! So sweet! #allaboutyou
ReplyDeletethank you for your kind words
DeleteWOW! What a practical application about being the hands of Jesus to others! Is your husband home yet? I know you will be glad to get him home! Thanks for sharing on What You Wish Wednesday! Come back tomorrow for WYWW!
ReplyDeleteHi Leslie he is indeed home and enjoying some time with our daughter over on holiday from South Korea but he heads off again next month.
DeleteI love this! Such a great reminder. Thanks for linking up with Hump Day Happenings.
ReplyDeleteHi Jenna, thanks for the kind words
DeleteI love this. And it's so very true. The hands of our loved ones are etched into our hearts because we've spent so much time feeling them, holding them, watching them... And Jesus' hands even brought life.Thanks for sharing this thought-provoking message and for sharing your gift here.
ReplyDeleteHello Karen and thank you for the picture of the hands being etched into our hearts.
Deletethis, a sweet, sweet love tribute ...
ReplyDeleteHello Linda, thank you for dropping in and encouraging me.
DeleteOh yes, I miss my husband's hands so much. Only two more months until he's home! Thanks for sharing this message with Three Word Wednesday. xoxo
ReplyDeleteOnly 2 months Beth, that's good. I'll continue to pray for his safe return to you.
DeleteWhat a great analogy of Jesus' hands and how we can be the hands of blessing today. Thanks for linking up to Testimony Tuesday!
ReplyDeleteThank Holly for your encouragement as usual
DeleteGreat visual! And what a compliment for your husband!
ReplyDeleteThank you. I'm going to have to make sure he has read this post.
DeleteSuch a sweet post, Sandra. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Holley thanks for dropping in
DeleteI, too, love the practicality and purpose that hands represent. When my grandmother passed this January it was her hands, among other things, that I kept remembering. They taught, they held, they loved, they disciplined, they nursed, they rejoiced, they fed, they prayed. I get what exactly what you are sharing.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
Dawn
Oh Dawn, more ways to describe what hands can do for us, thank you.
DeleteWhat a great perspective on something that we take for granted almost everyday. And it is through out hands that His work often gets done. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThanks Camille, you are right we do take them for granted so much
DeleteI loved this post especially since my husband is away. I miss him but he doesn't facetime me and I only get short calls since he is extremely busy from long hours and tired once he gets back to the hotel.
ReplyDeleteYes the long hours and late meals can be hard on them. Travelling with work is not the pleasant trips lots of people think it is.
DeleteThis was just a beautiful post!
ReplyDeleteIt made me tear up!
And I'm glad you have the blessings of so many loving hands to surround you.
Thank you for linking.
A+
Such a sweet and thoughtful post, with a great lesson for us about the hands of Jesus. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHi Jennifer thanks for the kind words.
DeleteOh how blessed this post is for me to find right this moment. Linking your husband's hand to the work of the Lord is beautiful. I lost my hearing totally at 39 from BOR syndrome. 7 years later, I met my husband in a church group of "Deaf/hearing". Learning signing (English format) was next to impossible for me, but I was much better at interpreting the signs. Terry is hearing but for the first 5 years of our marriage he signed and spoke in English sentence structure, everything to me! I had cochlear implant and he still signs when I need it. Just reading this made me tear up. We will celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary Sept 3 and I know just the letter I am going to write to him as part of our anniversary celebration. I always knew Jesus sent him, but this post just brought good tears. I hope your hubby is home now and you are enjoying how the Lord works through your hubby's hand to love and care for you even more.
ReplyDeleteLynn, that is a beautiful thing your husband has been doing for you. I'm so happy you have had this great gift. Enjoy your anniversary. My husband is home now he does not have to travel with work again until next month so we are taking some time away together for our anniversary at the end of the month.
DeleteSweet post Sandra. What a great reminder of the Jesus hands and our hands in service to him. Stopping by from Recommendation Saturday.
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping in Cathy I still haven't got back to the link up to do all my reading of the posts as I've been so busy with our daughter here visiting, and thanks for your encouragement
DeleteBeautiful sentiment. It's the little things sometimes that mean so much. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteOh Sandra, what a heartfelt story. When my husband is away for whatever reason I miss many of the same things that you do. Reading your story make me think about all the things my husband does with his hands for me and our family. Holding his hand when we are praying or when we are walking together are what came to mind first. Bless you and your husband.
ReplyDeleteMy mom didn't know how much my dad did around the house until he passed away. I'm sure she misses all the things his hands used to do, especially to love her and to maintain the house.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful post, Sandra. I love how you made the connection with your husband's hands and those of Jesus. And finally how we need to be Jesus' hands to those around us. Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post, Sandra. Thank you for putting truth out in the inter web!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post Sandra!
ReplyDeleteI think we need to be Jesus's hands for those in need during this holiday season.
I am blessed I can still hold my husband's hands.
Hugs,
Robin