These Hands
These hands held you for the first time on October 24th, 2001, a couple hours after you were born.
These hands fed you, bundled you for the ride home, cleaned and dressed you.
These hands held you and rocked you to sleep, and were hesitant to set you down in the crib as I wondered if I could possibly just hold you forever...
These hands clapped in encouragement as you were learning how to crawl and were then your support as you took your first steps.
These hands hesitantly cut your beautiful curly hair for the first time when we decided your hair had gotten too long.
These hands are constantly taking pictures of your firsts...and seconds, and thirds, trying to preserve the memories that are so precious to me.
These hands were absent when you took your "great fall" but they felt your pain as you cried out. They burned when I had to hold you down for the doctor, and they melted with the hugs that came afterwards.
These hands cover my eyes as we play hide and seek, push you on the swing, catch you at the bottom of the slide, and they tickle you until you laugh so hard you have hiccups.
These hands turn the pages in the books your always begging me to read.
These hands have often reddened your bottom when you just won't listen and they wipe away the tears that follow as I wish they could take away the pain.
These hands hold yours firmly as we cross the street, as I remind you to always look both ways.
These hands stay folded in prayer as we kneel by your bedside and pray for those we love.
These hands will send you off to school this year, and will likely wipe away MY tears as I am reminded that my baby is growing up!
These hands will one day teach you to drive. They may one day hold the phone as you call and say "Can I stay out 1 more hour Ma?", and will once again fold in prayer for your safe return.
These hands may hold yours which were quite little but will likely outgrow mine as we dance at your wedding.
These hands may hold your children as I bounce them on my knee and remember how short a time it seems to have been since you were that little.
These hands turn the pages in the picture albums as I fill in all the empty pages, and they raise toward heaven in prayer as I thank God for all he has given us.
These hands have never been glamorous and will one day be rough and wrinkled, but each line and wrinkle is a reminder of how thoroughly I love you!
