Body

Body

Then he took the children into his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them.

Mark 10:16

The word hand (or hands) appears about 1,800 times in our Bible and suggests images of both power and grace, blessing and curse. When Jesus lived on earth, his hands performed constant acts of love and service. With his hands he blessed children, touched and healed the eyes of a blind man, and broke loaves of bread for the hungry. Ultimately, it was into God’s hands that Jesus committed his spirit as he hung on the cross, and after his resurrection he ascended to heaven, where he sits at God’s right hand. Some hands mentioned in the Bible are not spoken of so kindly. Psalm 9:16 (NIV) states, “The wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands.” It was by the hands of Judas that Jesus was betrayed.

A mother’s hands cuddle a baby, wipe away a toddler’s tear, or hold a child’s Bible while reading the story of Daniel at bedtime. As the years pass, those same hands clap and cheer at ballgames or recitals, prepare pizza for a birthday party, or fold in prayer as she pours out to God her deep concerns for a child’s thoughts, choices, and character.

Our hands can be instruments that help or hinder a child’s life. Through our reliance on God, obedience, and good choices, our hands can bless others and contribute to the growth of God’s kingdom in the lives of our families.

Take my hands, Lord Jesus, let them work for you; Make them strong and gentle, kind in all I do.

Let me watch you, Jesus, till I’m gentle too,

Till my hands are kind hands, quick to work for you.^a Amen.