I have a little wooden horse. It was my Dad’s and it has survived more than 100 years. Why do I treasure this little toy? Perhaps it’s just thinking about all the hands that have held it. My grandfather’s hands chose it for his son. My dad’s hands played with it and later carefully repainted it in bright colors for me. My hands played with it, knowing that it was a special toy. My kids’ hands played with it “carefully”; it was much too old for rough play. Its survival amazes me.

Perhaps it’s “hands” that make our faith such a treasure. The hands of Jesus acted in love and then bore the marks of crucifixion. The hands of the apostles wrote the words, so that the world would remember this Jesus. The hands of a pastor held our infant body and sprinkled the water of baptism. The loving hands of parents supported us, led us, and finally set us free when we were grown. The hands we hold today; the hands that reach out to help us. So many hands – so much love.

The hands of love make our faith much more than religious words in a book. Our Lord Jesus used his hands to help and to heal. “… and laying His hands on each one of them, He was healing them.” Luke 4:40 The apostles also were given the power of the Spirit so that their hands could touch and heal. “And these they brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them.” Acts 6:6

It is uncertain where the statement originally came from, but there is a saying “’He has no hands but our hands, no feet but our feet.” Perhaps it is a paraphrase of Jesus’ teaching where He states “If you did it unto the least of these my brethren you did it unto me.” Matthew 25:40 Or the message from Galatians, “You obey the law of Christ when you offer each other a helping hand. “ -Galatians 6:2

Our Lord Jesus used His hands to give His unconditional love to me and to you. We lift our hands to accept His love. Let’s open our hands to share this love with one another.

Judy