The Hand

’ve been a “hand” this summer. I know it was my assignment from God. Not to lend a hand, but i. simply to be one—His—holding tightly to the hand of a woman I hardly knew before the project began.

She was a regular at our church’s monthly “Soul Food” services; I knew her only by sight when I learned ‘ she’d been diagnosed with cervical cancer. From the moment I heard of her illness, I felt as if her problem had become mine and knew we were to walk through the difficulty together, hand in hand. Not physically, necessarily. In fact, I haven’t seen her face-to-face since I asked for her name and address several months ago.

But I’ve been holding her hand in the spirit by mail, in cards and letters and stories I’ve sent to her on a weekly basis as the months have rolled by. She’s changed from an acquaintance I knew only by nickname to a friend I know by heart. ; I didn’t realize all this initially. I just felt it was nec- essary to send her encouraging news by mail on a weekly basis, never questioning where that prompting came from, as I knew it was God urging me to write.

But this morning He gave me the physical illustration 72 LIVING YOUR FAITH ‘ 73 to help me better visualize my role in her recovery. It’s helped me understand how we, who are the body of Christ, are to function in facing the tribulations of the world around us. We are Christ’s hands and feet—the vessels He uses to minister to others, and I understand more clearly now the importance of what He’s asked me to do. I’m just His hand.

Others have been His feet, driv- ing her to doctors’ appointments and other places she needed to be. His voice has spoken spiritual health as well as physical healing through men who’ve taught her the Word of God in Bible studies and who’ve offered up prayers on her behalf. Friends around her have seen to her physical needs and filled her cupboards with food. The whole body of Christ has ministered to her in one way or another.

But I’ve been privileged to be His hand. I realize anew the necessity of completing the task faithfully. If I’m to be His hand holding hers through- out the duration of this illness then it’s of vital impor- tance that I not quit. . . because He would never let go.

The outcome of her treatments in no way changes things either. He would keep her hand clasped firmly in His own until she was safely at heaven’s gates, if that’s where the road she’s traveling should take her. I am thankful that doesn’t seem to be the case. Her excellent progress has been cause for great rejoicing.

74 FOR THE LOVE OF GOD I know that when she’s finally declared “cancer-free,” God will release me to let go of her hands so we both can clap them in joy and then raise them in praise.