Thursday, March 5, 2009

Honoring My Hands


When Joe asked to marry me 16 years ago, my aunt gave him a ring that belonged to my grandmother. It was her engagement ring and when she died, she wanted it passed down to me. Our wedding rings were chosen to match it perfectly.

When I got pregnant with Devin my rings didn't fit anymore, and every time I had a child, I couldn't slip them on. I actually had them cut off with my pregnancy with Ivy because they got stuck on my finger. Just a few months ago, I brought the rings in to be repaired and re sized.

When I got them back from the jewelers they were shining and perfect and as I slipped them on, I felt a completeness, and wholeness as I realized that I would never have to take them off again. It was a very moving moment, and the jeweler stared at me as I was frozen in time, looking down at my hand with tears streaming down my face.

Shortly after I got home, I was taking a bath, alone and it was quiet. I was looking at my hand with my beautiful rings and my heart filled with such gratitude for this part of my body. I thought about all the amazing things my hands help me do through the day. Holding my children's hands, prepare nourishing food for them, putting a band-aid on a boo-boo, drawing, cleaning our home, playing music, writing my thoughts about our amazing life.

My hands are my song, my mothering, my creators of so many great things...

My friend Marcelle, game me a lovely Mango, warming hand lotion while we were at Disney World as a gift. I massaged it slowly all over my hands as I thanked them for aiding in my life so much. I gave them each a kiss. Ivy was watching me and she smiled. She looked down and kissed her own hands. She never asked any questions. she simply ran off to play. I know that she learns from all that I do.

Everyday now, I take time to be grateful and give them special care. As I rub them with luxurious lotion, I honor them for their starring role in my Joyful life.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great post, Dayna!

Erica said...

Wow Dayna.. I love this post! Thank you for taking the time to post it and making me think about all the ways my hands aide in our unschooling, respectful life.

sunnymama said...

Your post is great! It's so lovely that your daughter kissed her hands too. I just posted about my son kissing his knees today which I thought was so sweet too.

Tina said...

aww, that's so sweet!

and i know what you mean about not being able to fit into your wedding ring after kids! i STILL can't wear mine and need them resized. it makes me so sad to not wear my rings. my husband keeps joking that we're not married anymore because i haven't gotten my rings fixed yet. i really want to! just life gets away from me, always. :(

some day i'll be able to wear them again...finances are too tight right now, but it'll happen someday.

never thought of my hands like that...that's really thought provoking! :) thanks dayna! :)