Our hands tell us a lot about the kind of people we are. There are hands that are soft and smooth, hands that are dry and chapped, hands that are calloused, hands that are weak, hands that are strong, small hands, large hands. Hands that speak. We can usually tell by hands what that person does. Hands are so important.

What do hands have to say? There is the open hand. The open hand is friendly and welcoming. When you greet someone, or meet someone you shake hands. You use an open hand to great and welcome that person. Both hands welcoming are a double honor ... a very accepting way of saying, please come in and I am so happy that we have this time together.

With this hand, the open hand....I think of mother's comforting their children. Father's instructing their children, or showing them things that they can do. A nurturing hand.

In direct contrast to this is the clenched fist. The clenched fist shows just that -- it is closed, clenched, tight, ready to hurt, damage, or harm. The hand in a clenched fist is angry, harsh, and can be cruel.

With the clenched fist...I see a rough person, a person who would do harm to another.

Hands are remarkable, and how we use them is up to us. Do I want to welcome, or do I want to chase away.

I often think of this: "He has no hands but our hands."
Something to think about isn't it.