Monday Matters – “Hands” by Iyanla Vanzant

One of the most loving things I remember about childhood is my mother’s hands. Walking next to her, I had an eye-level view of her long, slender fingers and the deep lines etched into her palm. My mother’s hands created and often manipulated my environment with waves and gestures. She used them to communicate her desires and intentions. Her hands often warned my brother to keep his hands off of me. I watched her hands change as she aged and when she made her transition, they were crossed over her heart.

There are many days that I miss my mother’s hands. Often, in meditation, I can see, sense, feel her hands on my forehead or caressing my cheeks. I remember how she clapped her hands to get my attention or waved them to shoo me out of the kitchen. Thinking about my mother’s hands, I realized the significance of our hands and God’s hands.

Handover.

Handout.

Hands can build, shape and create. They can push, pull, tear and rip. Right-handed. Left-handed. Hands can massage, caress and comfort. These same hands can pinch, punch or slap. A hand up might be a signal for attention, affirmation, surrender or support. Hands down often indicates withholding, withdrawal, negation or hiding.

Steady-handed.

Under-handed.

A scalpel in the right hands can give or save life. A knife in the wrong hands can destroy life or carve it out. Upper hand, back hand, hands tied, free-handed.

Hands play a significant role in our everyday experience and more important, they indicate the state of our consciousness. We either use our hands to advance our selves, by our own devices or, use our hands to advance God’s loving presence.

Wringing hands, sweating hands, trembling hands, often indicate that we have forgotten the presence of the right hand of the Father. The Father’s hands are always available, accessible and amenable. We must reach for them. His hands will always steady ours.

The Father’s hands are omnipotent, and omnipresent. They are skilled and proficient. They will direct, guide and instruct.

The Father’s hands can renew lost faith, they can restore broken trust. They can calm us so that we can remember, they can comfort us so that we will forget.

Holding on to the Father’s hand is a privilege. It is a duty. It is a gift. It is an honor and a privilege to know that God’s hands are always around us and available to us.

What do you know about God’s hands in your life?

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About Iyanla Vanzant:

Iyanla Vanzant is the best-selling author of five books on self-empowerment, personal growth and spiritual healing. As the founder and executive director of the Inner Visions Spiritual Life Maintenance Network, she conducts workshops, seminars and lectures nationally. Drawing from her own experiences of family dysfunction, abuse, and poverty, Iyanla encourages us all to look at ourselves, laugh at ourselves and then take the necessary steps to heal ourselves. Her practical message is based on the principles of universal law, self-determination and the power of Spirit. You can learn more about her work at www.innervisionsworldwide.com.

Iyanla has recently appeared several times during Oprah’s Lifeclass webcast segments. You can view the classes here: http://www.oprah.com/oprahs-lifeclass/oprahs-lifeclass.html

Iyanla has a new show, set to appear on the Oprah Winfrey Network, called “Iyanla, Fix My Life!”. To learn more about it and apply to be on Iyanla’s show and have her help you, please visit http://www.oprah.com/ownshow/index.html?team_type=HarpoStudios

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