hands

This charcoal drawing of Nate and Jackie holding hands is titled "Unity." It is currently in an exhibit at the Citadel Mall. It is one of my daughter, Hannah's, drawings from her series on hands illustrating relationships. Her series includes drawings of friends' hands playing Nintendo, team hands in a spirit cheer, and a sweet one of Avey's hand clutching Eli's finger.

Her drawings have made me think of my own hands and how I love them. They are getting older, now; the knuckles are starting to get a little crooked and knotted with the beginning signs of arthritis. But the skin is still smooth and soft and they still can do everything I need them to do for me. Sometimes I forget how absolutely precious my hands are. I tend to use them and abuse them, take them for granted and neglect them. But they are my best tools; they are skilled and creative. They are agile enough to play the piano and do fine needlework; they are strong enough to pull weeds, scrub floors, and make bread. They are gentle enough to comb snarls out of a little girl's curls or nurse an injured bird. And they are tender enough to caress the ones that I love.

I hope they never get too tired to do good things!