Holding Hands, September 1 Daily Reflection

Jake holding my hand

Jake holding my hand

 Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb?

Even should she forget, I will never forget you.

  See, upon the palms of my hands I have written your name

Isaiah 49:15-16

How do you feel when you put your arm down and your hand out and know without thinking, just by instinct, that it is going to be grabbed by your littlest one?  Sometimes they yank and pull on your hand to lead you away from conversations with other adults. Sometimes they try to stop you from walking on so they can look at the candy at the grocery store.  Sometimes they just squeeze that hand in fear because they just heard the thunder and saw the lightening.  Most all of the time they are holding on to your hand because they know they are safe there.  No one can do them harm and you are holding them close to you at that moment.  God help me the day I extend my arm and no one grabs my hand to hold it!

Holding hands with a spouse or family member is a sign of affection to tell them without words that you are there for them.  That you will let them into your personal space and you want them there. Holding hands is so simple and innocent.  In Spencer’s favorite country song by Rodney Atkins Watching You it says:

“He said I’ve been watching you dad, ain’t that cool? I’m your buckaroo, I want to be like you.  And eat all my food and grow as tall as you are. We like fixin’ things and holding mama’s hand. Yeah, we’re just alike, hey ain’t we dad? I want to do everything you do, so I’ve been watching you.

Who holds your hand when you are scared of life and so stressed out about where the money for that next bill is going to come from?  Who holds your hand when you find out someone you love dearly is very ill?  Who holds your hand to make you feel safe like everything will be ok because that person will be there for you? 

 Is your spouse your tender place in this world to fall into?  Do you have a best friend you know will extend that arm and hold out a  hand for you?  Do your children without understanding squeeze your hand at the right moment, just when you think this world is too much?  The love you feel from those people who are so significant to your very existence is God.  God does not physically hold our hands except through the love we give to each other.  When you feel you can take no more and find comfort from some one’s kind words to you or solace from a sweet smile, you have experienced God.  God is all about spreading His love to us through others.  God has written our names on the palm of His hand.  He will not forget us.  He gives us each other to strengthen, console, uplift and love one another like he does for us.

Today take a moment to think about who has spoken kind words to you.  Who smiled at you today?  Who was God in your presence without you even knowing it?  Be that hand to hold for not just your child and your spouse but for others you don’t even know.  When you tuck your child in bed tonight take a moment to hold his/her little hand and feel that precious love of your child and thank God that He gave it all to you.

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