Weekly Devotion - #31

Read 1 John 3:14-19

Ugly Hands

The great evangelist J. Wilbur Chapman tells the story: The home of an English family caught on fire. They thought everyone got out safely; but when it was discovered the baby was missing, the mother went back into the fire for her baby. She pushed away burning wood and finally reached into the cradle for her baby. Her hands were badly burned.

For years the mother went about the house with her hands covered, which embarrassed the daughter. Her friends made fun of her mother's gloved hands. In fact, the girl became ashamed of her mother. But one day the daughter walked into her mother's room unexpectedly. There sat her mother with her hands uncovered. For the first time she saw her mother's hands. They were scarred and ugly. The mother quickly tried to cover them.

The daughter said in disgust, Mother, those are the ugliest hands I have ever seen. Finally the mother felt she must tell her daughter about her hands. "When you were a small baby a fire destroyed our house, you were in your cradle. I had to fight my way through the flames to save you. I wrapped you in a blanket, dropped you from the window into waiting hands. Not being able to go down the stairway, I climbed out the window. My hands were burned; I also slipped and tore my hands as I fell. The doctors did their best to repair my hands, but this is the best they could do. I know that you are ashamed of my hands but these hands were torn and scarred for you. The girl, now grown, wept, took one hand and then the other, buried her face in them and wept saying, "Mother, I'm so sorry! Forgive me! Those are the most beautiful hands I have ever seen."

One day all Christians will stand before their Lord and will be able to look at the nail-scarred hands and say, "Those are the most beautiful hands we have ever seen." [TGC]

THOT: Someone said, "Jesus, how much do you love me?" Then Jesus stretched out his hands and died.

TODAY: Be thankful for the sacrifice of others.

This lesson is from  30 Heart Touching Devotions available from SWM.

You have permission to copy for personal and church use.