A mother's hands reach out touch in many loving, spiritual ways

By Cindy Jury

If we were to follow a mother’s hands through a typical day, this is a glimpse of what we might see: Her hand reaches over and slaps the snooze button to quiet it. In the meantime, her little ones have heard this noise and climb into bed with her. They snuggle together with the warmth of still sleepiness. She touches their cheeks, smoothes their hair and might even scratch their backs.

Later, in the kitchen, she whips up some eggs the old-fashioned way. She then touches the soft bread which turns into toast. The butter knife is cool to the touch as it glides through the creamy butter. She hands her charges their morning masterpiece with juice and a spoonful of love. With full tummies and happy hearts, the kids grab their backpacks and head for the door. At the bus stop, mom waves with the ease of a princess on a float. She even winks at a few curious children who are not her own.

The clock is ticking, with the kids off to school. She grips the leather steering wheel while running errands. If she is a mom working outside of the home, she may move her hands across the computer keyboard, punch a time card or serve the next customer. If she is a stay-at-home mom, one of her main sensations is the feel of soap and water as she cleans the same spot for the umpteenth time, especially if she has still has toddlers at home. The laundry is lovingly folded as she touches the small shirts and socks just a little bit longer than the rest. She remembers even smaller sizes and realizes that some day her son’s socks will be as big as his dad’s.

The yellow school bus arrives and her heart jumps in expectation. What stories she will hear! She sharpens pencils for homework, hugs and kisses the children (if they still let her) and listens to the events of their school day. After they have shared the good and the bad, she wipes away some tears, celebrates the victories and settles some disputes. Her husband arrives soon after. She hugs him and listens to his adventures. She may even sneak in a back rub.

In the evening, she quietly folds a blanket over each sleeping child, checking to make sure they are still safe and sound. She whispers, “I love you, it’s mommy, sweet dreams.” She folds her hands together in prayer, thanking God for her family. She is feeling uncertain and asks herself, “What have I accomplished today?” She reads a scripture about chasing the wind and can relate, thinking how elusive her pursuits can sometimes seem. Although she has been busy all day and is tired, there is still so much left undone on her to-do list. This mother’s hands have touched so many things in a physical way. What she does not realize (or maybe she does) is that the most important touch of her day is the place her loving hands have forever reached inside of her children’s hearts.

A side note: I shared this story with my own mom, who started crying. I said, “Mom, I did not write this to make you cry. Why you are crying?” She replied, “Because you captured the way I felt when I raised you and your brothers. You reached into my heart.” I wanted to jump through the phone line and give my mom a hug, wipe away her tears, then laugh and dance to loud music like we sometimes do. But I couldn’t. The best I could do was to say, “Thank you, mom. You inspire me. I love you. I really do.” Happy Mothers Day to all of you. If you are a mom, remember that you are not chasing the wind; your days have everlasting meaning. You are continuing the cycle of love, life and laughter. And to all of you whose mothers are still around, I encourage you to give her a call and say the loving things that sometimes get lost in our busy world.

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