This was the hand that guided Moses, that strengthened Joshua—the hand promised to Jacob when the Lord declared: “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: … I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” (Isa. 41:10.) This was the determined hand that drove the moneychangers from the temple. This was the loving hand that blessed little children. This was the strong hand that opened deaf ears and restored vision to sightless eyes. By this hand was the leper cleansed, the lame man healed—even the dead Lazarus raised to life. With the finger of his hand there was written in the sand that message which the winds did erase but which honest hearts did retain. The hand of the carpenter. The hand of the teacher. The hand of the Christ. (President Thomas S. Monson, Prophet and President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
The hand of the Lord. The hand of God. The pierced hands of the Redeemer. Who amongst us hasn’t seen or felt this loving hand in their lives? Just as the people of the Scriptures witnessed the hand of the Lord in their lives, so too do we. We may not have the Savior living and walking amongst us in the flesh, but His hand can be seen and felt today just as surely as it was during His earthly ministry.
Sitting on a shelf in our home is a treasured gift. It isn’t a very expensive gift nor is it a rare gift. But, it is a treasure to us still the same. It’s a small painted plate depicting the hands of the Savior. This simple painting of His hands serves today as a visual reminder for many things we try to practice in our home. It reminds us to pray always, to remember His atoning sacrifice, to lift up another, to love each other, and to be a family that grows together in Christ. It’s also a constant reminder for each member of my family to acknowledge the hand of the Lord in our daily lives.
In a message given during the October 2007 General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor to the First Presidency asked “Have I seen the hand of God reaching out to touch us or our children or our family today?” In this powerful message, President Eyring urges all of us to find ways to recognize and remember the Lord’s kindness, to remember always our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ.
One of the greatest lessons that I’ve learned is that the Lord sometimes blesses us through others. Think about it, how many times have you been in need of something only to have that need answered by a family member, a friend, or even a total stranger? It has happened in my life more times than I can count. He touches our lives through the deeds and words of those around us. We in turn can be the answer to someone else’s prayer through our acts of service and love. When we serve one another, we become instruments in the hands of God.
So today as I sit at my desk and watch the snow continue to come down, I could choose to be upset that I can’t get out to go to the grocery store. Instead, I choose to see the hand of the Lord in the beauty that surrounds me as the woods around our home is transformed into a beautiful winter wonderland. I choose to acknowledge the hand of the Lord in the kindness of our neighbor who has been here twice already today to shovel our driveway. I choose to see the hand of God through friends that called to see if we are okay. I choose to see the hand of God in the love and trust of our boys who know that everything is fine because Mom is here.
Have I seen the hand of the Lord today? Oh yes, a hundred times yes. If you would but take a moment and reflect on it also, you too will see the hand of God in your day.
