by Christine McPheter
“Perhaps nothing is so fraught with significance as the human hand.” Jane Addams
Aging and Development Program Focus Team, years ago decided to read a book once or twice a year and focus on it for our updates. When the book came: Daily Cures Wisdom for Healthy Aging by Connie Mason Michaelis, I said to Mattie, that title sure doesn’t look like the one we voted to read. So, before lunch, I sat down and opened it up and started reading. It was hard to put it down. Let me share: Beautiful Hands
I have a beautiful picture of hands displayed in my home. My two sisters and I had a professional photographer take pictures at Mom’s 90th birthday celebration, and one of them was a simple picture of our hands. We have always commented that our hands look more alike than our faces. Mom was embarrassed that hers looked so wrinkled and worn. I could have picked my mom’s hands out of a lineup without any other clues. As you look at your hands today, do you look at the wrinkles, or do you think of their remarkable life history?
The hands we look at are extensions of our hearts and illustrations of our work. The older the hands, the more beautiful and expressive they become. Some believe that as we age, we should cover up our gray hair and wrinkles, but our hands are there for all to see. Our hands are tools of life. At one time, our tiny hands held on to big hands while learning to walk. They’ve gone to school and played ball. They have written letters, and maybe they’ve slapped a time or two. I’m sure you were instructed to extend your hand and shake another’s with a good grip. Those hands have worn class rings and wedding rings. They’ve patted baby bottoms and prepared thousands of meals and washed million of dishes. They’ve worked construction, commanded a calculator, and performed surgery. Most importantly, they have conveyed love and tenderness. Even with arthritis and missing digits, there is no such thing as an ugly hand. They are illustrations of history and life. I’ve had the privilege of shaking many of those well-worn hands. Today I am proud to have hands that look like my mom’s.
