My Hands Feel Empty by Carol Harrison

 

 

Lately, on many days, my hands feel empty. Even a pen slips from my grasp and my storytelling grinds to a halt. Moses had his staff, his everyday piece of equipment for tending his flocks of sheep. God used that in mighty ways. What do I have in my hands that God can use on days I feel like I am running on empty?

Sunday morning in the sermon, the pastor was preaching from Nehemiah 10. He reminded us that with all the sacrifices that needed to be offered, someone had to cut the wood and bring it as an offering or a tithe to God. Something often overlooked as we think of all that people gave to God from the animals to the temple offerings. Yet the wood was indispensable. Everything is important to God no matter how little it seems or how much in the background.

This got me thinking again of this month’s prompt of what is in my hands? Is there something still I can offer when my hands feel so empty? As I worked on this blog post I kept thinking of encouragement. It might seem like something small but to those it is offered to, it can be the difference in their day. Can I fill my hands, mind, and mouth with encouraging words and actions?

Yarn has a double meaning of storytelling with exciting twists and turns or continuous twisted fibres woven together for strength. In Ecclesiastes 4: 12 it says, “And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” Together we are stronger. In Hebrews 10: 24 & 25 we read, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

Stir up one another to love and good works. Encourage each other. Encouragement can be in my hands and help form a three-fold cord with others, God, and me. How can I offer this encouragement? It might be picking up my phone and making a call or sending a text or email. It might be picking up a pen and writing a note to send or give. It means offering a smile, giving a hug, reading another’s work and offering comments or leaving a review of a published book. There are so many little things that can be an encouragement to others.

As I thought of how I had been encouraged, Inscribe came to mind. I have learned so much from other writers, been given encouraging words, and helpful suggestions. Together we are stronger than alone. So what is in my hand is like yarn or a three-fold cord that is stronger than one strand by itself.

How have you been encouraged? How can you encourage someone else today?

 

Carol Harrison lives and writes in Saskatoon. She hangs on to encouraging notes to read on those days her hands feel empty.