Tuesday, May 27, 2008

My hands tell my story

As I was taking my usual 2 mile walk the other day, I saw my hands in a manner I had never seen them before.  They looked old, like an eighty year old pair of hands.  And they looked worn, like a farmer's wife's hands may look if I were to imagine them.

So I asked myself, "What are these hands telling me?"  It's a life's story full of ups and downs, but the past 25 years since my husband divorced me and since I have been raising my children on my own, these hands do tell a story.

The words that come to my mind are: rough, hard, difficult, worn, and tired...those are my hands and how they look.

The other words that come to my mind are: wise, experienced, loving, comforting, giving, caring, full of grace...that is my heart and how I feel.

The story is of no concern, I'm sure those who are reading this can tell their story and evoke the connection we women have in dealing with life's ups and downs.  But the hands, so telling, so true; and the heart, so real and so honest.  It just blew me away to have this insight and I wanted to share.

Have an awesome day!

Karen

 

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed reading this, Karen; isn't it neat to have insightful things like this?? I look at my hands, now that I'm 50, and I see my mom's hands but in those hands were love, care, warmth, dedication to raising her 3 kids alone (my dad died when I was 18 months old) and I'm proud to have her hands.

you have an awesome day too! I hope your visit with your son was enjoyable

betty

Anonymous said...

You had the same Ah ha moment that I had a few years ago.  I looked down one day and said "these are not my hands, they are my mother's hands".  Since I had a great mother, I had the same kind of insight that you describe.  Nice entry.
Hugs, Joyce

Anonymous said...

I can relate to this defenetly. ..... love, Christine

Anonymous said...

Hi Karen:)  That reminds me of the song, "Daddy's Hands" (don't remember who sang it but was a woman).  I remember how my mom's hands looked when she got older and would wonder if my hands would look "old" someday and how would I feel about it. Now I know and I feel the same as you. Doesn't bother me in the least and I love what silver is in my hair; just wish it was all silver:)......alice

Anonymous said...

My hands have changed so much over the past few years. They do look older, but they look like the hands of a farm gal. Guess thats from playing outside all the time since we moved to the country. I dont mind so much...it suits me. :) Kelly

Anonymous said...

What a great observation, and so true. With healing comes scars.

Beth

Anonymous said...

My hands look like my Mother's and Grandmother's hands did many years ago. My hands have like yours many hours of work behind them but also a lot of love did these hands do also. Helen

Anonymous said...

Your observation has struck a note with us all ,My hands too look like my Mothers ,except that I wear nail polish ,something she would never have done ,Fortunately my hands are as my Grandmothers were too , still nimble enough to to knit sew and embroider for which I am so blessed ..love Jan xx

Anonymous said...

Strange, I've just come upstairs to the computer after a long and enjoyable day out. I thought how tired my hands were looking and I put some hand cream on, something I rarely do.

At 55, my hands are still smalll and delicate looking, compared to the quite large person that I am, yet I think of what they have done. Today, caressing my grandaughter's cheek and curls. They once saved my 3 year old sons life. I never wear gardening gloves, preferring to feel the soil and plants as I tend them.

My maternal grandfather and many of my great aunts and uncles had missing digits, due to the heavy industry they worked in. My father's line were poor farmers. I wonder what stories their hands would have told.

Thank you for giving me these thoughts.

Linda.

http://journals.aol.co.uk/lindaggeorge/GeorgeMansions/

Anonymous said...

I'll try again, and thanks for your note

Yasmin

http://journal.aol.co.uk/cayasm/isntshegreat/

Anonymous said...

hmmm.... you sure have me thinking...  and my hands definitely tell a story... a long drawn out sometimes sad but mostly happy one.  Thanks for sharing.  Feel free to stop by my place... hoping you'll be a bit surprised at what you find after seeing the name... lol
d

Anonymous said...

A very interesting entry. I think my hands are ugly because I always did lots of yard work and never took care to wear gloves. Paula