Look At Your Hands

Good morning…

“One hand full of rest and patience is better than two fists full of labor and chasing after the wind,” warns Ecclesiastes 4:6 (AMP). As we speed toward Christmas, what a tangible choice our LORD sets before us.

First I envision my left hand open, cupping rest and patience, while my right hand is free to accomplish every essential thing, peacefully.

Then I envision “two fists full of labor.” A fist is closed, clenched, controlling. Two clenched fists raise adrenalin to prepare for a fight. Labor. Hard work. No rest, patience, or peace. Finally I envision the impossible task of chasing after the unpredictable wind. Who to please? How, when, where? Is enough ever enough? Tugged by the whim of each emotional gust, we are pulled this way and that. Stressed. Scattered. Spent.

Baby Jesus will be born anew one week from today. When you look at your hands, moment by moment, what will you see? Will your two fists be clenched, racing and chasing, chocked full of futility? Or will your left hand be cupping rest and patience, while your right hand is free to extend peace?

As a tangible reminder, I take the pointer finger on my right hand and, on the palm of my left hand, I pretend to write “Rest” then “Patience” in invisible ink. When I feel myself start to close, clench, control, I will open my hand to retrace “Rest” then “Patience.”

One hand full of rest and patience is better than two fists full of labor and chasing after the wind (Ecclesiastes 4:6, AMP).

…Sue…