Hands

Yesterday was my kind of day.

We began with church: I had to cry first thing. Pastor Dale talked about hands. Mother's hands. He asked us to look at our hands - and not to notice if we all needed a good dose of lotion and a manicure. He talked about Mom's hands: how they wipe a fevered brow. How they hug a tear away. How they wash untold amounts of dishes and fold mountains of laundry. How they hold a Bible to read, in order to gain wisdom. How they fold to pray. How, in all this, they seek to be used to raise Godly children full of wisdom and grace. What conviction! I wondered how many opportunities I have missed to bless my children with my folded hands, and missed holding my Bible for wisdom instead of relying on my own.

After church service, we headed home. Faith and Heather had arrived early and put some sweet touches on the house: a banner on the door, fresh flowers and tablecloth in the dining room, the smell of scones baking in the oven. Precious! Chuck served made-to-order omelettes with all the trimmings for brunch (yum!), Grandma was in attendance and the drooling dogs were locked in the back yard.

Then: the very best part of the day. Piling on the couch to watch movies, cuddle, share running commentaries, and leftover scones and fruit to munch. Not to mention a couple of dear friends to share it with. How can you not LOVE a Jane Austen/Cary Grant festival on a Sunday afternoon?! With your children! (Chuck chose the Padres on the other TV. Somehow, it seemed the manly thing to do!)

It was a sweet day. I feel so honored to be ... honored. I know it's because my girls really want to spend time with me. I know that I delight to be with them. To watch them create a gift of themeselves with all their talents and imagination is such a delight. I want to pass on a legacy of offering up the work of their hands to the Lord, for His good will and pleasure. I know that I was full of smiles yesterday - as I believe the Lord was as we both watched His girls give themselves away.

I pray to use my hands for service. It's my heart's desire - to serve. My girls and my sweet husband sure served me yesterday. Utter sweetness.

Thanks, God, for calling me to be a Mom.