Saturday, January 31, 2009

Grandma's Hands ~


This story touched me deeply (story follows below). I received this in an email from my very good friend, Gina, a few years ago and wanted to share it with all of you. The author is unknown so I am unable to site and give credit where it's due.

I decided that it would be a wonderful thing to do with our own family. So when I made my first Genealogy trip to KY last April, I decided to make our own "Our Hands" photo... it came out wonderful. Here at home we took a hands photo of my mom, myself, my daughter, and my granddaughter, 4 generations. My mom and my granddaughter went on the trip to KY with us to meet my Aunt Virginia (Ginnie) for the first time and so when we got there we did a hands photo with her. Once home, I printed the photos and framed them and gave one to each lady for Mother's Day, they now hang in our homes. Each time I walk by mine hanging in the family room, I smile and know that for many years to come our descendants will have a photo capturing . . . 

"Our Hands"



Many of our friends that have seen the photo, have wanted to do the same... so recently I have photographed and framed "their" hands for two different families.

Grandma's Hands as I received in an email...




JUST LOOK AT THE PICTURE A GOOD WHILE, AND THEN READ THE REST. IT WILL TOUCH YOU. I was privileged to take a photo of "Five Generations of Women" shortly before my 93 year-old Grandmother passed away last year. The photo, shown above, features the hands of my Grandmother, Mom, Sister, Niece and Great-Niece. While I can't take credit for the idea, I was so happy to have had the suggestion & capture this moment. It inspired a friend of mine to do something similar which turned out so beautiful and a special keepsake prior to her father's passing. ~ Author Unknown

GRANDMA'S HANDS

Grandma, some ninety plus years, sat feebly on the patio bench. She didn't move, just sat with her head down staring at her hands. When I sat down beside her she didn't acknowledge my presence and the longer I sat I wondered if she was OK. Finally, not really wanting to disturb her but wanting to check on her at the same time, I asked her if she was OK. She raised her head and looked at me and smiled. "Yes, I'm fine, thank you for asking," she said in a clear voice strong. "I didn't mean to disturb you, grandma, but you were just sitting here staring at your hands and I wanted to make sure you were OK," I explained to her. "Have you ever looked at your hands," she asked. "I mean really looked at your hands?" I slowly opened my hands and stared down at them. I turned them over, palms up and then palms down. No, I guess I had never really looked at my hands as I tried to figure out the point she was making.

Grandma smiled and related this story: "Stop and think for a moment about the hands you have, how they have served you well throughout your years. These hands, though wrinkled shriveled and weak have been the tools I have used all my life to reach out and grab and embrace life. "They braced and caught my fall when as a toddler I crashed upon the floor. They put food in my mouth and clothes on my back. As a child, my mother taught me to fold them in prayer. They tied my shoes and pulled on my boots. They held my husband and wiped my tears when he went off to war. "They have been dirty, scraped and raw, swollen and bent. They were uneasy and clumsy when I tried to hold my newborn son. Decorated with my wedding band they showed the world that I was married and loved someone special. They wrote my letters to him and trembled and shook when I buried my parents and spouse. "They have held my children and grandchildren, consoled neighbors, and shook in fists of anger when I didn't understand. They have covered my face, combed my hair, and washed and cleansed the rest of my body. They have been sticky and wet, bent and broken,dried and raw. And to this day when not much of anything else of me works real well these hands hold me up, lay me down, and again continue to fold in prayer. "These hands are the mark of where I've been and the ruggedness of life. But more importantly it will be these hands that God will reach out and take when he leads me home. And with my hands He will lift me to His side and there I will use these hands to touch the face of His Son Jesus........I will never look at my hands the same again. But I remember He reached out and took my grandma's hands and led her home.

When my hands are hurt or sore or when I stroke the face of my children and husband I think of grandma. I know she has been stroked and caressed and held by the hands of God I, too, want to touch the face of God and feel His hands upon my face. ~ Author Unknown





9 comments:

Terri said...

How funny - I received that same email this morning from a friend of mine -

Greta Koehl said...

Beautiful pictures and a beautiful story. Thank you, Gini.

Gini said...

Terri, that is such a coincidence! I have had this email for about 2 years, I have been wanting to post it since I started my blog Jan 15, I thought it a wonderful Genealogy project! I am glad you had the opportunity to receive the email too.

Gini said...

Thank you Greta, I found it to be such a wonderful story to share.

Judith Richards Shubert said...

I found this so touching and thought-provoking, Gini. What a wonderful gift you have been able to give your future family members and those of the families whose hands were featured in your compositions. Thank you.

Gini said...

Thank you for your wonderful comment Judy, it really put a smile on my face! It is a story that has touch me. I do love that "our" hands will be around for a long time to come. I hope that it inspires others to possibly do the same.

Charley "Apple" Grabowski said...

I love this idea!

Gini said...

I love it too Apple, thank you...I am so glad that others may be able to create their own. As I said before, everytime I walk past mine, it puts a smile on my face and I feel close to my female family members.

my Heritage Happens said...

You KNOW I love this! I am so glad you shared it with everyone!