Les mains de grandmere

1
My Grandmother's Hands
2
My grandmother, being more than ninety years old,
was seated, appearing weak on the patio bench She
was not moving, sitting alone, her head bent,
staring at her hands When I sat next to her, she
did not move, no reaction..I did not want to
disturb her, but after a long moment of silence,
I asked her if she was all right.
3
She raised her head and smiled at me.  Yes, Im
all right, thanks for asking me  she said with a
strong and clear voice
I didnt want to disturb you, grandmother, But
you were seated there, Staring at your hands and
I wanted to know if all was right with you  I
said to her.
4
Have you ever looked at your hands?   she
asked me I mean really looked at your hands?
I then slowly opened my hands and stared at
them. I turned them around, rubbing the palms.
No, I believe that I never really looked at my
hands.I told her while asking myself what she
wanted to say.
5
Grandmother smiled at me and told me this
story.  Stop and reflect a bit on the subject of
the hands that you have, How they have served
you since your birth.
My hands, wrinkled, dried up and weaked have been
the tools which I used to embrace life. They
allowed me to grab on and stopped me from falling
when I toddled as an infant. They carried food
to my mouth and dressed me.My mother showed me
as a child to join them together to pray.They
tied my shoes and my boots.
6
They touched my husband and wiped away my tears
when he left for the war. They have been dirty,
cut and rough and swollen. They were clumsy when
I tried to hold my first child Decorated with my
marriage ring, they showed the world that I loved
someone unique and special.
7
They wrote letters to your grandfather and
trembled when I buried him. They held my
children, then my grandchildren, Consoled the
neighbors and trembled with rage when I did not
understand. They covered my face, combed my hair
and washed my body The were sticky and moist,
dry and rough.
8
Today, when things do not work any longer like
before for me, These hands continue to sustain me
and I still can join them in prayer..
These hands carry the mark of what I did and of
the accidents of my life But most important it
will be these same hands that God will grasp to
bring me with Him in His Paradise. With them He
will raise me up to His side. And there, Ill be
able to use them to touch the face of Christ 
9
In deep thought, I looked at her hands and at
mine. I will never see them again with the same
eye.
Later, God extended His hands and drew
grandmother to Him.
10
When I hurt my hands, when they are sensitive Or
when I caress the face of my children or of my
spouse, I think of my grandmother.
11
I know that she was sustained by the hands of
God. And I also want, one day, to touch the face
of God and to feel His hands on my face.