There are fingerprints on the windows, again. There are smudge marks on the counter tops. There are sticky spots on the floor where juice and other liquids have been spilled. The bathroom sink has mud smeared down the sides from grubby fingers trying to wash themselves. There are crayons and color books covering the table. There are legos and other toys on the floor in the living room….
These are constant images in our house. It’s a constant battle, never to be fully won. You see, I live with 40 little fingers ~ soon the be 50. Although the last 10 won’t be getting into thing for awhile. And these 40 little fingers that the Lord has blessed me with are always into something! That’s quite the nature of children, isn’t it? And how many times would we like to change that nature? I know I have wished that before. I’d like my floors to stay clean for longer then one night. I’d like our bathrooms to stay clean for at least an hour. Could my dinning room table please stay cleaned off longer then a few minutes? Those little fingers can be so frustrating at times. They get into things that they shouldn’t be getting into. They make messes. They can cause pain towards another sibling. They can play with toys and then leave them for something else. Yes, those little fingers can be so frustrating and annoying.
But, they can be blessing, too. Can’t they? When Mama is making cookies, those little fingers are just itching to help. If dishes need to be washed, those little hands are willing to get wet ~ along with the rest of the body! Those little fingers want to help when raking the yard. And then throw the leaves up over their head, all the while saying, “I’m talking a shower in leaves!”. Those little hands make beautiful pictures for us to hang on the fridge. Those are the little hands that you teach to pray with. Those are the little fingers that love to try and tickle you with.
No matter what is happening, those little fingers are a reminder that the Lord has blessed us. He has deemed us worthy to teach and raise these beautiful souls for Him. He considers us capable to lead them in the direction they should latter go in. For those little hand won’t stay little for long. Those little fingers won’t always make the smudge marks or the streaks of mud on the sinks, that show the little bodies attached to the little fingers are healthy and able to play outside. Those little hands won’t always make the colorful pictures that adorn your fridge. Those little finger prints on the windows won’t alway be a witness to the little lives that are growing in your home.
And those little hands won’t always reach up for yours, to be held in comfort and security. Let us alway strive to remember, that even amongst the frustrations and annoyances that these precious little fingers can bring us, that we are indeed blessed by the Lord.
By these little hands.