Simply Balisha

Simply Balisha

Saturday, July 12, 2014

My Hands



The inspiration for this post is:
from http://brittarnhildshouseinthewoods.typepad.com/brittarnhilds_house_in_th/  Britt wrote about her hands yesterday, in a post. I asked for permission to copy a line or two. Here is what she said, "If I had to choose between beautiful nails and elegant fingers, I have no doubt. I prefere the two I have. They show all the 56 years they have lived and loved and worked, and they proudly show it. Wrinkles, broken nails and all.

My Hands, by Balisha
From the very first moment of birth my hands have been important to me. The first little dimpled fist and tiny fingers wrapped around a parents finger...is what every parent remembers with joy. Later on I gazed with wonder at my hands waving in the air. The first wave bye, bye, patti cake, playing peek a boo, this little mousie, itsy bitsy spider, and blowing a kiss, "Now I lay me down to sleep" with folded hands..
As time went on playing in the sandbox, modeling clay, mud pies, helping to make cookies.....fingers in the dough, catching bugs.Holding a fat Crayola crayon, a pencil, a paintbrush.
I went on in school and used my hands to turn the pages in history books, gestures in a class play,make pottery with potter's wheel, began to  feel compassion for another...a pat on a friend's back, when she was in trouble.

A new stage in life when I married and used my hands to start creating in the kitchen, make curtains, apply makeup, turn the pages in the newspaper. Then in my first pregnancy, feeling the baby move in my belly...wow, what a sensation that was the first time! The touch of my baby's dimpled hands, the joy of folding diapers.
I loved being a Mom. I changed diapers, curled hair, wiped noses, tied shoes,  fed meals, calmed a crying child, turned pages in a book..."Go Dog Go" cleaned up messes, wrung hands when they were sick, bandaged boo boos, soothed a brow and so many other things that come with being a Mom. Later in my life, I waved goodbye as they left home, and wiped my tears.

The later years were filled with using my hands to garden, paint, create things, cooking for two, care of aging parents, caressing Mom with Alzheimer's...holding her hand, patting Dad's shoulder.."It will be all right," Cared for sick husband, gripping the arm of hospital chair, prayed for him, soothed him, fed him,  and last...scattered his ashes.

By now I am  a widow and use my hands to cook for one, knit, craft, paint, gardened,cleaned, touched my grandchildren, soothed babies, patted the dog, folded hands and prayed.

I met someone, and shook his hand for the first time. Patted his dog and mine, cooked his favorite meal, and later...took his hand in marriage.  I've helped to make a home for us.... using my hands to decorate, clean, garden, soothed him before surgery, put on those elastic stockings, with my arthritic hands, held his arm as he walked with a new hip, learned new computer skills, learned to love writing.....tapping the keys of the keyboard.

As my son was dying last summer, I wiped his brow, and touched his face for the last time. I wiped away many tears.

It's just about full circle now. My hands are looking old, never had a professional manicure, countless bottles of hand lotion don't change things. Wrinkles appear almost daily. These old hands of mine have seen it all... from my first little fingers wrapped around my parent's hands, holding my newborns, intimate touches in marriages, soothing older people, waving goodbyes, blowing kisses, cooking countless meals, yes my hands have been busy.

Along with Britt who says, that she has earned these hands. I feel like I have earned every wrinkle on my hands... just as I have earned every wrinkle in my face. So, now, when I shake hands at the "Sign of Peace" at St. Mary's, I will look down at my hands and say...."Job well done."

Balisha

28 comments:

  1. This is such a beautiful post and really touches my heart. Have a wonderful weekend my friend! ~ Diane

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    1. I'm so glad that you liked it. I've thought about it for quite a while...as I look at my hands changing.
      Gardening is keeping them going I think.
      Balisha

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  2. So much truth...made me cry...I can relate to everything you said. These old hands of ours have really had a ride, haven't they??

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    1. I cried in some places as this was flowing out of my mind. I just kept going and found that I have been one busy lady. ....as you have been too, Carol. You share with me the loss of children. I think that experience takes it toll on us as we age. You and i grew up together and I appreciate your kindness.
      Pat

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  3. Your hands are beautiful...
    My hands always
    when younger and now
    are so filled with veins.
    I can remember my Jamie
    looking my my hands when she was a child
    and I was in my early 40's
    saying
    "mama you have old hands."
    Love your post..

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    1. I can remember looking at my Grandma's hands and pulling at the loose skin......wondering what happened to her. After my life events...now I know. She was always so busy and still had time for me. Wish I could remember her touch.
      Balisha

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  4. I love this and may have to steal your idea--not your words, just your idea. My hands used to be quite beautiful--not anymore, but oh the chores they have done and will continue to do until they are folded for the last time.

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  5. I can tell from reading your posts....that you were a busy mom too. Hopefully we both can continue on with simple chores until the last.
    Think about it....our hands are almost always busy.
    Balisha

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  6. This was very heartwarming. You have beautiful hands and you have accomplished so much. You've endured heartache but you have had many joys as well. God bless you and thank you for sharing this.

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    1. My life has been blessed.......and I'm so thankful for it. God is good,
      Balisha

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  7. What a beautiful post, Pat. I must admit I don't like the new age spots, veins and wrinkles that I am noticing daily on my own hands. After reading this, I will think differently about my hands as I continue to age. You are a lovely woman inside and out!

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    1. Glad my post made you change your way of thinking about your hands. Aren't your hands your most prized possession?
      Balisha

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  8. Beautiful! Those hands hold your spirit and share it with others.

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  9. This is one of the sweetest posts I;ve ever read...and I thank you for blessing me with it today.
    xoxo bj

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    1. Hi BJ,
      I was reading Britt's post about her garden and her hands and just thought that I might do the same only "my Way" I know that you have busy, loving hands....with your family and creative things you do. I think that is pertains to many women as they grow older.
      Balisha

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  10. God gives you your face but by the time you're 50, you've earned it. Or so I believe.

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    1. Thankyou for visiting today. I believe the same. I often look in the mirror and see my mother.
      Balisha

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  11. What a beautifully written post! I am about to cry. I was shocked a few years ago to look down and noticed that I suddenly had my mom's hands, and her mom's hands. I suppose I had earned them by that time.

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    1. Susie that's exactly what happened to me....several years ago, I walked past a mirror and saw my mom.
      Balisha

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  12. Replies
    1. Thank you so much for your nice comments. I wrote this for me, but it looks like it's something that we busy women all feel.
      Balisha

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  13. This is such a beautiful post, Balisha. You have lovely hands that can tell quite a tale of a very rich life in each faint line. I used to think the same thing when I held my mom's hands during the last few weeks of her life. All the babies she cradled and held and fed and comforted. So caring and loving, just with those two hands.

    Jane xx

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    1. Sometimes we take things for granted. We pay no attention to things like our hands. This post grew and grew as I thought of things that my hands had done. I think now, that hands are right up there with important body parts.
      Balisha

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  14. Dear friend, you have just written my story to a T. I have lived your life very closely and you have lived mine. The one difference is that I had to give my second husband up to God as well, I held him when he died..and his last words to me were "I love you" and he was gone.
    We have both lost children..and just within a very short time of one another. My hands are like yours...they show my years and the work I have done. It's been a sometimes wonderful, and sometimes heartbreaking life we have lived...and our hands have played a great part in all of it. Though they hurt now at times..we are so lucky to have lived the lives we have lived.
    When I fold my hands in prayer, I thank God for people like you in my life, that I can relate to and share my life with and I know they will understand.. I wish we could shake hands ...just once.
    Love,
    Mona

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    1. Dear dear Mona,
      I know about the things we share in our lives. I thought of you as I wrote about my first husband and then the loss of Tim. I hoped that you would read this. I'll never think of old age, when I look at my hands again.
      Balisha

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  15. Thank you, Britt...for the idea and the comment.
    Balisha

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  16. This is a lovely post, Balisha. ♥

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