THE HANDS

By Loraine Priestley-Smith

His gentle hands will comfort us

     When things don’t go our way;

His outstretched hands are ready                                                                      

     to welcome the one who goes astray;

With hands of love he lifts us up  

    when to the ground we fall,

And those same hands will guide us

    when we accept his call. 

 

If we but place our hands in his,

    such comfort we will find

In knowing that our human hands

    are held by the Divine;

 

Our hands, made in his image

    and created for his use

To touch the broken hearted

   and the one who’s  been abused;

Our hands – to be lifted in praise to him,

    and to be clasped in prayer;

Our hands – to serve the hungry

   and help those in despair.

 

We give you thanks Almighty God

for these hands --  Your creation.

Cleanse them, use them. 

May they bring comfort and healing

to people of every nation.

(Loraine Priestley-Smith is a student at New Brunswick (NJ) Theological Seminary and a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, Highland Park, New Jersey.)

© 2006 United Methodist Relay All Rights Reserved.

Greater New Jersey Annual Conference