Our Hands Were Made to Create
“May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands” Ps. 90:17. 
“Mama, you have a young face but your hands are old,” piped my observant four-year-old. I glanced at my bony hands guiding the steering wheel as I drove home, knowing what I’d see: Bulging veins and knobby knuckles. She’s right, I thought, as I sat on one and dangled the other over the top of the steering wheel to remove it from view.
I’ve spent a fair amount of my life hating these hands, but seldom give them a second thought these days. I’ve long come to terms with these appendages and quite appreciate their usefulness. Sometimes I actually love them, especially when they fly across the keyboard as they are now. But when I heard a speaker claim recently that our identity is found in our hands because they represent who we are, I had to wonder what my hate/love relationship with mine said about me.
I didn’t find research supporting the speaker but found something much more useful instead. Seems when we create things by hand, our mood is enhanced and we feel happy. We have a primal need to make things, according to Dr. Kelly Lambert, chair of psychology at Randolph-Macon College. What’s more, the obscene amount of time we spend with technology, plus the act of buying the stuff we need rather than make any of it, leaves us in a state of disconnect. In the name of progress, we deprive ourselves of an essential creative process that offers pleasure, meaning, and pride.
“Fools fold their hands and ruin themselves” Ecc. 4:5
People who can’t use their hands to create because of crippling arthritis or other debilitating handicaps, often become depressed. Research shows that hand activity — from knitting to growing flowers to grating cheese — can beat stress, relieve anxiety, and lower depression rates. Creativity is a powerful tool for altering our inner life because it soothes and satisfies us.
Interestingly, two of my favorite memories about deceased family members are related to their hands. What I remember most about my grandmother is the Saturday she spent helping me sew a simple dress for Home Ec class. Her hands guided the spring green fabric under the jutting needle of her sewing machine, Snipping, threading and knotting, her spotted hands helped me create magic.
And I remember my mother-in-law’s patient hands when she taught me how to crochet handbags and house slippers. Maybe there is something to the speaker’s hand identity claim after all because patience defined that woman.
I didn’t carry on my grandmother’s legacy of sewing, but I did crochet for a while. I later took up macramé, bread making, sponge painting, and a host of other crafts.
My creative hand activity these days is mostly related to writing. Sometimes I do a little cooking. And I like to take care of my flowers. I’m not sure I find identity in my hands, but I do find joy when I use them to create.
And though these hands are much worse for wear since my preschooler’s observations years ago, I praise God for these hands.
“…I am fearfully and wonderfully made” Psalm 139:14.
Prayer: Thank you God for hands to create. May we recognize and appreciate our hands as we use them to show others your love—by caressing a fevered brow, by baking muffins for a sick neighbor, by weeding a garden, or by adding beauty to the world. Amen.
How do you use your hands to create?
We probably don’t realize how much we use our hands until a message like yours gets us to thinking. I do a lot of cooking, gardening, and computer work, but not much sewing these days. I remember my mother lovingly creating costumes for me for two high school plays. She made my prom dresses. Her hands were amazing! Thanks for your inspiring message–brought back some beautiful memories.
Isn’t it amazing how wonderfully God created us? And how all our parts can work together to create and serve Him? And help us realize a life of abundance?
I love to crochet also, though I haven’t crocheted in years! I once made a granny square afghan, back in college, that I was determined to use up so many scraps of yarn skeins and I set a goal of no two granny squares being exactly alike. It was really run and created a beautifully-colored afghan that I still have!! Thank you for the reminder that our hands were made to create!
Julie, I love rediscovering past joys, whether it’s from doing or remembering.
Shann
October 22, 2014 at 8:25 pm
Wonderful post! I creatively use my hands to paint, cook and leave a mark on my heavy bag!
minette2012
October 22, 2014 at 6:20 pm
I loved this post, Candi and I love your beautiful mirror. I still have paint on my hands from my weekend of creative play. Making things with my hands, in the craft room or the kitchen keep me centered, grounded and happy. Coloring books for adults are a great way to tap into your creativity. Amazon has bunches 🙂
candideal Post author
October 23, 2014 at 12:02 am
<3 Love it!
candideal Post author
October 22, 2014 at 11:59 pm
Now this is something I haven’t thought about, but you’re so right.Think about how tactile preschoolers are in learning about their world. Maybe that’s one reason for the need for hand activity – to get in touch with our inner child. I hope the younger generation doesn’t lose this as they grow up with buttons and gadgets.
carmon1
October 22, 2014 at 1:23 pm
We need to share this message with children. The other day a boy visiting my house was invited by my son to carve a piece of wood with a pocket knife. The visiting boy repeatedly said he wasn’t familiar with doing anything with his hands because he plays video games all the time and is accustomed to making things appear with the push of a button. Ouch! Let’s keep talking about the value of creating with our hands.
candideal Post author
October 22, 2014 at 11:57 pm
We use our hands to create goodwill and love for the earth, ourselves, and others. I used to have my students trace their hand and then write verbs inside them describing the many ways they use their hands in a given day. They could list forever.
Peggy Nolan
October 22, 2014 at 1:19 pm
Candi – I love the wisdom in what you write. My husband creates with his hand through cooking. I create by crocheting and gardening (mostly crocheting now since winter’s coming)
terri Dean
October 22, 2014 at 12:49 pm
I loved this. I hadn’t really thought about hands in this way before, but it makes so much sense. I, too, have a grandmother whose hands I remember. She was sick for most of my life, but every Friday she got a manicure and her hands were so beautiful. Every now and again I see her in my own hands and she reminds me to give a little care to myself.
candideal Post author
October 22, 2014 at 11:53 pm
What a great lesson for your grandmother to teach you. There’s a new hand reflexology massage place in town I want to try.
Sheila
October 22, 2014 at 12:40 pm
What an interesting topic to write about! I have old hands too but I appreciate them more now that my mother has passed because I have hands like hers. Your post reminds me of a time when my late paternal grandmother was in the hospital. She had come very close to death and wasn’t totally conscious. Her hands, however, worked the bed sheet as the folded over the edge of the fabric and ran it through her sewing machine. Amazing, no?
candideal Post author
October 22, 2014 at 11:49 pm
Yes, amazing. I appreciate my hands much more than I used to!
Andrea
October 22, 2014 at 12:18 pm
Interesting… makes me want to think more about “holding on” and “letting go.” Thanks.
candideal Post author
October 22, 2014 at 11:51 pm
I think about keeping mine open in the pose of acceptance of whatever comes my way.
Debra Reble
October 22, 2014 at 11:42 am
Wow Candi you really got me to appreciate my hands in a whole new light…so important to me for touching the faces of my loved ones, creating delicious food, playing the piano and so much more…thank you for your heartfelt post
candideal Post author
October 22, 2014 at 11:50 pm
We use our hands to spread so much good!