Have you ever really looked at your hands?  I mean, have you thoroughly examined them? Do you realize just how amazing your hands really are?  If you have ever hurt your hands, can you remember how disabled it made you feel?

Just a slight burn or a small cut can cause pain when you use your hand to do really simple, ordinary, daily things.  When that happens, even washing your hands can cause great difficulty. And if a cast or some other appliance is needed for the hand to heal, and the hand can’t be used for a period of time, it can cause a person to feel sorry for oneself.

I think we should all learn to appreciate them more and be thankful for them.  Some people don’t have the use of their hands. Our hands are a gift. They deserve respect and care by their owner.

I am so amazed by the many differences found in the hands of people.  I used to work with children in kindergarten and taught them the alphabet in sign language.  I was astonished to see so many different kinds of hands in just one class of students. The sizes and shapes and colors of each little hand was so surprising and beautiful.  Each hand had its own characteristics and when I would help a student make the shape of a letter, it was a special experience.

Touching another person’s hand is really an intimate act.  From the first time a baby’s hand is touched by a parent, until the last moment of a person’s life, holding hands is a deeply personal experience.  Its significance can be a cherished memory long after that person is no longer with us.

Hands can tell a lot about a person.  Large or small, smooth or wrinkled, weathered and rough or smooth and manicured, they speak of who we are and where we’ve traveled in life.  They are never to be taken for granted, because they are a gift. And gifts are deserving of gratitude. Besides, being thankful is a gift too.