Picture of the day - February 8, 2008

Momma's Hands

Photo courtesy of Glen Rouse. At first glance the busy hands featured in today's picture look much like any other pair you might find on an octogenarian, but in reality they are quite special indeed. You see, these hands belong to my precious momma. When mom was a little girl growing up in Damascus, Virginia, her hands were never still. Life was quite difficult for the Parkers back then as it was for most families of the era, and the kids had to do their part to help put food on the table and clothes on their backs. Momma's hands were always busy at something that needed to be done such as pulling weeds in the garden, helping Aunt Viola pull wagonload after wagonload of laundry around town, peeling potatoes, washing dishes...like I said, whatever needed to be done. Another of momma's tasks was sewing. With such a large family there was always a pair of britches that needed patching, a dress that needed hemming or a pair of socks that needed darning, and mom just seemed to have a knack with a needle and thread. Over the course of her lifetime she has repaired, altered or "made from scratch" countless articles of clothing, the vast majority of which belonged to someone else. But she never complained because she was the loving daughter, sister, niece, cousin, friend, daughter-in-law, mother, and eventually grandmother, and after serving the Lord her primary mission in life has always been making the lives of the people she loved just a little bit better. And not once in her 80 years has she ever failed in that mission. Since mom has put in literally thousands of hours working with needle and thread, you would think that sewing would be the last thing on her mind when she finally found a little time for rest and recreation, but that isn't the case at all. She learned how to "quilt" as a young girl, and over the years she grew to love turning heaps of scrap material into beautiful works of art. Today her beautiful quilts are gracing beds and walls all over the United States, and you can see one of the masterpieces she created for Cheria and me right here. When I think of momma, I'm often reminded of the song "Daddy's Hands", the beautiful and touching ballad recorded by Holly Dunn a couple of decades back. Just substitute the word "Momma's" for "Daddy's" and it fits my mom to a T. Her loving hands certainly weren't always gentle, but they have always been full of love - and they still are today. They say the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world, and that's absolutely true. But the hands of my precious momma have helped make it a much better place. I love you mom...     Visitor Comments... Name: Ron E. Trees Town: Spokane, WA "Momma's Hands", the photo is great, the comments are priceless. Thanks Rick for today's picture and the memories that it brings. God Bless, Ron   Click here to comment on this picture.   Visit the POTD Archives for previous "Pictures Of The Day"!     Submit a photo of your own!            Why I publish the "Picture of the Day"