Tag Archives: encouragement

These Hands

I painted my nails for the first time in several months.

My hands

As I looked at my hands, wrinkles and all, I was reminded of my maternal grandmother, Grandma Fannie.

Grandma’s hands

She always had the most lovely nails. When I was a little girl, I use to spend the night with her. We would watch Lawerence Welk while eating popcorn, then paint our nails. She spent several years in a nursing home, and when I arrived she did not remember me, but she knew I could paint her fingernails. And that is what we always did.

My lovely Grandma

These hands remind me of the love my grandmother had for me, and the love I have for my granddaughter.

These hands remind me of the first time I held Norah.

These hands remind of life…the good, the bad and the ugly.

These hands have wrinkles and show I have lived.

These hands have been enveloped in the love of my husband’s hands and cradled my sons.

These hands have clapped at games and been thrown up in exasperation!

These hands have been cold, warm, and tense.

These hands have been burned, and hurt.

These hands have been raised in prayer and praise…to the one who loves me most.

These hands are full of love.

~Be Encouraged Today~

Tammy

George Bailey

Guardian_angel_clarence

It’s that time of year…one of our favorite Christmas movies..”It’s A Wonderful Life”is being watched by many.

Remember when George was a little boy? He saved his brother and gave up hearing in one ear and future dreams when Harry came back from college. But he also saved someone else’s life….the pharmacist, Mr. Gower.

Mr. Gower lost his son and ended up filling an incorrect prescription. George did not deliver the medicine, knowing that they were incorrect. And Mr. Gower hit his bad ear. And George took it and said he understood. He kept the secret…and saved Mr. Gower’s career.

It's_a_Wonderful_Life_-_George_with_Mary_and_Violet

You know the story….

Sacrifice.

Nothing but sacrifice. He laid down his life for those he loved and cared for…and he did it over and over throughout his entire life.

George was human and it all kind of piled up on him, like it has many of us. And the Father reached out to prove how wrong George was about his wasted life…

I believe He still does that friends. If we just listen. He loves us, we are valuable. Christ laid down His life for us….so we might live.

Maybe that’s why “It’s a Wonderful Life” resonates with so many of us.  We understand how George felt, and we rejoice when we see just how much he is truly loved.

That kind of love, that kind of sacrifice….is JESUS.

 

john-15_13

~Be Encouraged Today
Tammy
Isaiah 55_8-9