Mother’s Hands

By Barbara Chadwick

I remember my mother’s hands. They were the hands of a Proverbs chapter 31 woman. They were mostly gentle. However, when there was a need for discipline they became stern.
I saw her hands gently cleaning the blood off of Mrs. Shanahan’s head and face one day when her husband had beaten her and pulled out some of her hair.

I remember those hands hugging Maxine when her daddy had died and her mother had to go to work to care for the family of five. Then when Maxine would come early on Sunday morning, those hands would wash her face, put one of my dresses on her and feed her breakfast before we would leave for church.

With her hands she ironed for others so we could have piano lessons.

Melodically her hands played a little pump organ for a service once a month at a ranch in New Mexico (about two hours drive from our home in Roswell) where my daddy had been asked to preach.

A year or so later she would pack our clothes and bibles to go to El Paso Gap (up in the mountains from Carlsbad, NM) Every other weekend my daddy was to preach at this little mountain community. Even in the early 1950’s some people came to the school house for service in a horse drawn buggy or wagon. They often paid him with milk and eggs.

She combed, braided and cut our hair. Four girls. Every day. I can still feel the comfort and warmth of her hands touching my face while arranging my hair.

As she cut cloth, and worked the sewing machine we would wait in anticipation and excitement of what new thing her hands created for us.

She enjoyed using her hands to cook. We often had a visiting preacher or missionary in our home. They always spoke of being blessed by her hospitality.

She sang from her heart in church. She would hold the hymnal and encourage us to sing. The Bible was familiar to her hands, in church and every day at home. When I would fidgit in church her hands would squeeze my knee. Ouch!

She cleaned house with her hands but what a sweet memory it is for me that she sang while she cleaned. I wish I had done that for my children. I’m afraid I did more complaining than singing!

She prepared Sunday school lessons, helped with Vacation Bible School, taught the nursery, prepared and led Women’s Missionary Union meetings. Later, after her children were grown she prepared Wednesday night meals for the church and led state Girl’s In Action conferences.

Her life truly exemplified the words in Ephesians 5:2; “Live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

God Is Not Through With You Yet

by Barbara Chadwick

Hebrews 13 :20-21May the God of peace... equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ to whom be glory forever and ever.

I call my 90 year old mother often. For the past year she has sounded a little down and maybe depressed, almost like Eeyore. But, yesterday when I called she sounded actually perky. I said, "How are you. You sound good." She answered, "The sun is shining today and I'm feeling just fine! I had been thinking that the Lord was through with me. I've lived a good life and I was ready to go home to be with Him. But this morning I'm feeling like I'll just live to be 100!" She has blessed countless people with her encouragement, her prayers, her smile and the way she lives out her faith in Christ.

God is not through with you yet. As long as He leaves you on this earth He has something for you to do. he will equip you for doing His will. So get up every morning as if the sun is shining (because His Spirit shines through you) and ask Him to speak through your words and actions that day.