A delicate caress along the bridge of a newborn nose, a gentle wipe across a face streaming with tears, a tender touch along a forehead raging with fever…the beauty of the human hand…the power of a touch.
2 months ago, Josiah Seth broke his femur. Many hands reached out to give comfort and aid to Seth (and to a distraught mommy). Visible hands. But the visible hands alone were limited. For physical healing to begin, Seth needed to be put into the care of unseen hands. He was taken to the operating room where a surgeon aligned the femur and, with the assistance of other doctors and staff, applied a cast to hold the properly aligned bone in place.
With pain, I recall the uncertainty I felt as I stood, relinquishing to unseen hands my feeble attempts at comfort. In the weeks that have followed, I’ve thought a lot about unseen hands, specifically as they relate to the Christian journey.
"Fear thou not for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." NIV "…I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Is. 41:10)
So often I long for visible hands and am fearful to place my complete trust in the Hands that hold a known future. I was reminded of the following lyrics, which express the sentiments of my heart:
There is an unseen hand to me
That leads through ways I cannot see
While going through this world below,
This Hand still leads me as I go
I’m trusting to the Unseen Hand,
That guides me through this weary land
And some sweet day I’ll reach that strand,
Still guided by the Unseen Hand
I wrote this post about 2 years ago. It's still relevant to me! I've experienced those unseen hands differently in the last few months --holding us fast in the turbulent times of an unknown future.
Thank you, Father, for your hands.
2 months ago, Josiah Seth broke his femur. Many hands reached out to give comfort and aid to Seth (and to a distraught mommy). Visible hands. But the visible hands alone were limited. For physical healing to begin, Seth needed to be put into the care of unseen hands. He was taken to the operating room where a surgeon aligned the femur and, with the assistance of other doctors and staff, applied a cast to hold the properly aligned bone in place.
With pain, I recall the uncertainty I felt as I stood, relinquishing to unseen hands my feeble attempts at comfort. In the weeks that have followed, I’ve thought a lot about unseen hands, specifically as they relate to the Christian journey.
"Fear thou not for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." NIV "…I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Is. 41:10)
So often I long for visible hands and am fearful to place my complete trust in the Hands that hold a known future. I was reminded of the following lyrics, which express the sentiments of my heart:
There is an unseen hand to me
That leads through ways I cannot see
While going through this world below,
This Hand still leads me as I go
I’m trusting to the Unseen Hand,
That guides me through this weary land
And some sweet day I’ll reach that strand,
Still guided by the Unseen Hand
I wrote this post about 2 years ago. It's still relevant to me! I've experienced those unseen hands differently in the last few months --holding us fast in the turbulent times of an unknown future.
Thank you, Father, for your hands.
Comments
I am so sorry to hear of your FIL's illness, but I too will remember you all as you traverse this difficult path. I loved what you said on your blog about painfully precious memories. I can so relate. Bless you, my new friend. I also am so happy to meet another homeschooling mother!
LESLEY
I have been affected many times by those unseen hands. I depended on them to guide the surgeons hands through Connor's five different surgeries. I felt those unseen hands help me pull Connor out of the pond when I thought he was already gone. Those same hands helped me up the embankement and kept me steady as I ran to the house. They held Connor on all those nights in the NICU when I couldn't be there with him. They held, pushed me, lifted me up and gave me extra strength and help when I felt like I couldn't go on. Yes, I cannot imagine what my life would be like without those unseen hands being a part of my life.
I know those unseen hands will be there for you, David, the boys and all the family and they will be holding you in that perfect place...the palms...to give you all that you need and more. I will continue to remember you all in my prayers. Love ya!
Thanks for stopping by. You've been in my thoughts today.
Lesley,
So good to hear from you. I've been following your countdown to go get your son. I'm am so excited for you and would love to hear more about this process.
The boys are growing fast. We enjoy them immensely.
Charlene,
of my readers, there are perhaps only a few that can truly relate to the these "hands" in the same way that you and I do. Reading your words, stirred my heart again--you are an incredible mom. It is an honor to be your friend.