Last week I was called to the hospital with a request from a family that wanted to capture some last memories before the Lord called their loved one home. Their request was to photograph only the families' hands. The first image was of his hands with his mother and father's. It's not supposed to happen like this. Parent's are suppose to go before their children. Knowing the situation made it hard to "hold it together". It's amazing how the Lord gives me strength to get the job done, and then allows me to fall apart as soon as I get in the car to drive home. As I was driving, I could just see Roy walking through those beautiful pastures behind and on both sides of their home. Thus I was inspired by the words I would place on the portrait of the hands with his wife and two children. Two days later, Roy passed from this life. Today I attended his funeral where both of these prints were displayed beside his casket. The words to the song "Daddy's Hands" were recited by one of the ministers, and his daughter read a poem written by a friend entitled, "Hard Working Hands". At his graveside at the end of his service, we all joined hands as we prayed the final prayer. I think sometimes we take our hands for granted. I am thankful to our heavenly father for the work he allows me to do with my hands, and I think this experience has made me realize how important our hands are. How will you use your hands today? Will you shake the hand of someone who needs a friend, will you use them to help someone in need, will you use them to pray and thank the Lord for all the blessings in your life. I will thank Him for giving me this opportunity to create something for this family to treasure long after this day has passed.
