Jennifer Lambert

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You are here: Home / Faith / Empty Hands Hold Miracles

Empty Hands Hold Miracles

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September 28, 2017 By Jennifer Lambert 14 Comments

We don’t really do a “back to school” since we “do school” year-round. It’s rather anticlimactic; there’s little to break the rhythm of lessons, meals, and constant chores. We have a lifestyle of learning and we certainly take frequent breaks when needed, like during travel or PCS, and for holidays . . . but if we take too much time off, there is boredom.

But there is also burnout.

I get tired and irritable and selfish.

I start to focus on impossibilities.

But we serve a God of possibilities.

Not having any time alone gets wearisome. I’m an INTJ and crave alone time. I start to fantasize about exotic vacations, trips to the bathroom alone even.

Just when I’m at my wits’ end, God shows up in the most unexpected places: Facebook statuses, blog posts, a sermon with a guest speaker, in my kids’ random and violent bear hugs that all but bruise my innards.

I have this amazing family around me, constantly. They’re right there in front of me, gazing expectantly with wide, long-lashed eyes.

I can *whoof* out their candles with a sharp word or thoughtless expression . . . or I can nurture those shy little flames of hope into blazing wildfires for the Kingdom.

When I start to desire to send them away – to play outside, to their rooms – do I stay selfish and go with my feelings? Or do I minister to my family, with God’s help?

And I realize my hands aren’t empty. It’s not so much that my hands are all that important. What I hold in my hands at any given moment can be miraculous if given Power. And it’s not as if the screen I bleed onto should have that much sway over my life.

The rod in Moses’ hands parted the seas. The slingshot in David’s hands destroyed the giant. The fishes and loaves in Jesus’ gentle hands multiplied and fed the multitudes with leftovers.

When I truly empty my hands . . . when I put down the iPhone or iPad, stop typing on the keyboard, quit stirring the pot, let that dirty dish sit in the sink, allow that stinky sock to go another hour or day…

God can use my hands for His glory.

Empty hands can hold miracles.

I can hold a book while they snuggle {too} near for read alouds.

I can fold my hands and pray with and for each of them.

I can hold their little hands in mine as we thank God for all the many blessings in our family circle.

I can caress that soft blonde curl behind her ear while I gently instruct a difficult math lesson.

I can wipe away the tear from the embarrassment of that mistake. Again.

I can envelop him in a big hug.

I can teach her how to knead the bread dough just so.

I can guide her fingers into the scissors to cut out the pattern.

I can lift up she who has fallen.

When I hold my children in my hands, I am touching the miraculous. I am glimpsing God.

Who knows what they will do for the Kingdom?

I can be the hands of Jesus to my children.

What’s in your hands?

It’s all about trust, control, acceptance.

If I can’t accept love, how can I offer it?

If I continue to thirst and hunger, how can I lead my little ones to the Living Water?

We have nothing to give others without giving first to Jesus. He gives through us.

He’s writing stories through us.

In the end, we’ll all become stories. We, as moms, have great and terrible influence over the stories our children write for themselves.

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Filed Under: Faith Tagged With: handsfree, parenting

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Comments

  1. Natalie A says

    October 16, 2017 at 5:49 pm

    I LOVE your inspirational post! I have never thought about Empty Hands Hold Miracles, but that is so true! I’m glad that you shared this with me today. I’m going to start today to do miracles with my empty hands! Have a great Monday!

    Reply
    • Jennifer says

      October 20, 2017 at 2:04 pm

      Thanks so much!

      Reply
  2. Gayl says

    October 16, 2017 at 8:36 pm

    I love this so much! God can use what we have if we open our hands to Him.
    Blessings! So nice to have found you at the #LMMLinkup!

    Reply
  3. Jennifer says

    October 17, 2017 at 4:55 pm

    Beautiful post! These are such important things to remember. (I’m an INFJ, so I totally get the being ALONE thing, too!) :)

    Reply
    • Jennifer says

      October 20, 2017 at 2:03 pm

      It’s so hard sometimes! I just need that alone time to recharge.

      Reply
  4. Marsha says

    October 19, 2017 at 3:51 am

    Thanks for the reminder! Nurturing those litttle hearts is so much more important than anything else we hold.

    Reply
  5. Leslie says

    October 19, 2017 at 3:47 pm

    Jennifer, this is just beautiful and a reminder that holds true when they are teens as well. Thank you so much for this!

    Reply
  6. Carol says

    October 19, 2017 at 5:58 pm

    Love this! May we always be His hands and may we always hold an cherish the wonders of His gifts!

    Reply
  7. Michele Morin says

    October 20, 2017 at 3:39 pm

    Thank you for the mothering heart that comes through in these words.
    I love the image (and the caution!) of how we whoof out little flames with harsh words.
    Blessings, Jennifer.

    Reply
  8. Debbie Putman says

    October 20, 2017 at 5:02 pm

    Totally true on every level. And those same truths apply when I’m with my 38-year-old daughter. She still needs my love and care. My empty hands to show her she matters more than anything else. She’s coming to visit tomorrow. I’ll be praying to remember to offer her my empty hands.

    Reply
  9. Sherry says

    October 20, 2017 at 5:40 pm

    The first time I realized that the only reason I was created was for the glory of God I was sorta floored. So true he can use your hands to glorify God and he can use all of me to do that also. Love this! Thanks for sharing at Home Sweet Home!

    Reply
  10. Tami Qualls says

    October 22, 2017 at 4:14 am

    This is just what I needed to hear: “God can use my hands for His glory.” Thank you so much for sharing this via Literacy Musing Mondays.

    Reply
  11. Meghan says

    October 27, 2017 at 11:43 pm

    I love this, “Empty Hands Hold Miracles” because it is counter-intuitive to what the world teaches. Amen, Jennifer ~

    Reply
  12. Kelli says

    October 28, 2017 at 6:22 am

    All those little moments really do impact our relationships. And relationship — with Jesus and with others — is what it’s all about.

    Reply

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