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Hands – A Gift from God

September 10, 2015 By Jean Wise

 

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Hands are a miracle gift from God.

The human hand has long fascinated me.

The Human Hand

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The Human Hand

Did you know:

  • The human hand is composed of 27 bones plus numerous tiny sesamoid bones that are in the hand’s tendons. In order to have the hand work in a coordinated fashion add in 29 joints and at least 123 named ligaments. 34 muscles are in charge of moving the fingers and thumb: 17 in the palm of the hand, and 18 in the forearm. 48 named nerves: 3 major nerves, 24 named sensory branches, 21 named muscular branches. 30 arteries and nearly as many smaller branches are named.
  • I am sure you know that no two human beings in the world have similar fingerprints. The fingerprints of twins can be indistinguishable in some respects but still they never match exactly.
  • The palm and the skin on the underside of the fingers is a unique area of the human body. For a start, it has no hair and is composed of tough durable but incredibly sensitive skin. Did you know you can’t get a tan on your palm?

 

The Hand of God

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My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me.

Psalm 63: 8

The photo above is of a small statue I purchased on a trip to Germany. It sits today on the shelf just about my computer where I write this blog. It has accompanied me on retreats to help create an environment to experience God. When upset, anxious and/or lost – I become that little girl leaning into the hand of God.

What a powerful image this is – the hand of God.

Think of all God has created, destroyed, healed with his hands.

Hands

Hands are unique. Powerful. Can both hurt and comfort. Protect and endanger.

I watch a young mother gently caressing her newborn.

I see someone offer a hand to lift another.

A finger wipes a tear from an eye.

The pastor breaks the bread and blesses the wine with hands uplifted.

When I grip something tightly, I am tense and unable to receive. A fist means anger; a fight. My hand can grasp, hold tightly things I am afraid to lose. It hides what we fear others will see. Hands can be a weapon of our hatred or our need to defend ourselves against aggression.

I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess.

Martin Luther

I come to God with an open hand, empty of self, waiting for him. Unless unoccupied, a hand cannot receive. If filled with stuff, a hand can’t offer friendship or assistance to another. We can’t plant seeds of encouragement and love if we cling to worries and distraction and empty promises. Our hands were created to help and heal, not hurt and harm.

Take some time today to look at your hands. Appreciate their intricacies. Their message. Their history. Their usefulness.

Then think about the hands of God.

The Creator.

       The Healer.

              The Comforter.

Isn’t it amazing we are made in the image of God? Our hands are like his. Heavenly hands. Human hands. Both full capable of wonders and worth.

Today I am grateful for my hands and the hands of God.

What do you consider when you study your hands?

 

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Filed Under: spiritual lessons

Comments

  1. blankNancy Ruegg says

    September 11, 2015 at 1:02 pm

    Wow! That first bullet point blew me away, with all those statistics about our hands. (Just our hands alone are enough to cast doubt on evolution. How could they have just “happened?”) I, too, have considered the hand of God, particularly his right hand, mentioned specifically a number of times in scripture. The result became a blog post, of course! 🙂

    • blankJean Wise says

      September 13, 2015 at 7:25 pm

      The hand is such a wonder and so is the whole body. we are walking miracles and so often never appreciate it. Thank you Lord!!

  2. blankCeil says

    September 11, 2015 at 10:42 am

    Hi Jean! Bloggers and writers use their hands all the time, and if they’re like me, take them completely for granted. Thank you Lord for the gift of my hands, and allowing me to express my faith through them.
    I love your statue! Such a tender moment…
    Happy Weekend 🙂
    Cell

    • blankJean Wise says

      September 13, 2015 at 7:23 pm

      I got that little statue in Germany and it brings tender memories to me every time. glad you liked it too.

  3. blankMartha Orlando says

    September 10, 2015 at 10:09 am

    Jean, you gave us quite the “handful” to ponder today. 🙂 All kidding aside, this is a marvelous, inspiring post; I will reflect upon how I use my hands today. Blessings!

    • blankJean Wise says

      September 10, 2015 at 8:35 pm

      You are funny and made me smile, Martha. Thanks!

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