A Mama's Soul Is In Her Hands

I was in the midst of a project at work and was dialing the phone when I looked down and saw them.  Right there in front of me on this crazy work day, there they were - my mother's hands.  It's amazing how you can be in the midst of something hectic when God nudges you to take a moment to spend a few minutes with Him in reflection of your life.

All my life, everyone in my family has told me that I have my mother's hands.  Of course, when I was a teenager, I would roll my eyes and smile as it didn't seem all that flattering.  Now, that I am older and I think more about her sweet hands and what they did for me, I feel honored.  Those hands reached out to me as I learned to walk, they spent countless nights rubbing my legs over hot towels as I struggled as a little child with growing pains, they dried many tears over life hurts and they patted my back, which was always the end result of a tight hug. 

I didn't always like or understand my mother's decisions.  Growing up she would always tell me, "You will understand when you have a child of your own and when you are the mother of a teenager.  Only then will you truly get it."

As a teenager and even after I was married, if I had been driving in the rain and forgot to call her, she would call me to ensure I made it safely to my destination.  In all honesty, most times it was absolutely and completely annoying because if she couldn't reach me (this was before cell phones), she would call every friend I had or every friend of a friend or their relative to FIND me to be sure I was safe from the rain.  Barry and I still laugh about it because she was relentless like a private detective!  She was persistent that way.  That's what a mother's love will do for you.

Things have changed since then.  Now, I would give anything for her to call me after I've been driving in the rain.  Oh, how I wish she was here to use those hands to dial my number.

Today, my Hannah got her driver's license and as she pulled away in her jeep, driving alone for the very first time, I could feel my heart leave my body and it was then that I knew what it felt like to have the need to try to find your baby after she's been driving in the rain to ensure she was safe - no matter how relentless. 

Mama, I truly get it....now.

"...So you see, my dearest Mama--

Yours are hands of love.

And I bet the Lord will notice

When he greets you from above."*

 

There's no doubt He noticed when he greeted you, Mama.  Thank you for your loving hands and how precious they still are to me.  I can still feel the love you extended from your soul with those sweet hands.

*Tommi Jo Casteel, Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul

 

"Big Red" - be good to my girl!!