Welcome

Why a blog from me, someone who has never been a writer, someone who has never been articulate or had a solid grasp of the grammar world. Because God told me to write. Several years ago a life storm invaded my family. God kept telling me to write it all down. I argued, but He would not let up. This went on every day for a couple of weeks until one day out of frustration, (I'd like to say it was out of obedience), I picked up a pen and paper and wrote for 7 hours straight! Do you think maybe I needed therapy and God knew it?

I've been writing ever since and have learned to love it! I started out sharing my stories with friends and family. I've now been published in a Nashville church paper, Our Daily Journey (a devotional site of RBC Ministries), PCCWeb Daily Devotional, Ruby for Women Ezine Magazine, and I am a contributor in the book Alabaster Jars, Life in Abundance Collection 2.

Why Ponderings? During this life storm, God led me to a pond in the woods behind my home. There He met me each time, teaching new lessons, reminding me of old ones, showing His presence and allowing me to feel His love through the surroundings of that pond. I found myself returning over and over to ponder, pray and praise. A healing of my heart took place and out of the experience came my first book, Ponderings From the Pond, then a second book, Ponderings From My Porch, and now a third book is in the works along with a memoir about my storm.

Why am I making myself so vulnerable? Because God has done so much that I cannot keep quiet. I have to share. Jesus's last words to his desciples were, "Go,tell." We are his disciples too and this is just one of my ways of telling.

I'm no scholar but I have heard God's voice in my spirit, experience His love daily, and have a desire for others to experience this also. I would love to share with all who visit and I would love to hear from you. If my sharing gets just one to ponder, to be quiet with the Father, to see and hear from Him or to be reminded of something from Him, then this is worth my vulnerability.

As you visit me, sometimes we will be at the pond, sometimes we will move to the front porch, and sometimes we will just be here, there, and yonder. Thank you for coming and please feel free to come back anytime, you are always welcome here.

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Psalm 19:14

*****EXCITING NEWS*****

My first book, Ya Know What I'm Say'n, has been released.


Ponderings

Ponderings

Sunday, December 1, 2013

My Mother's Hands

After two years apart because of many miles, this past week I was able to hold my mother's hands. . .in greetings, in love, in honor.


These hands, frail from time and work, are precious to me and others.

These hands have prepared many delicious meals, baked mouth watering delicacies, sewn wonderful creations to give beauty, pressed dried flowers to send to her grown daughter miles away because she knows it makes the daughter smile.

These hands of hers have folded in prayer so many times. They have lifted in surrender to her Lord, they have folded on behalf of others, they have held on to dear ones and squeezed little children with love.

These hands have gone through much in life, much of not being easy, and yet these eighty-two year old hands live in grace, give grace, give thanks, and even wonderful backrubs that would make the toughest of tough purr.

These hands embrace God's Word, embrace her grown children, embrace the little ones who live next door, makes the little ones birthday cakes and decorates even though they are filled with pain because her giving to others is more important than the aches in the fingers.


This daughter knows when her momma folds her hands in reverence, the Lord hears and seven hundred miles plus down the road, the daughter knows, the daughter feels, the daughter is blessed.

After a week, I had to leave to go back to my home. My mother and I say good-bye the night before as I lay in bed with her. She held me, I held her. Then I quietly left the next morning as she slept. We say goodbye this way because we know we'll both cry and it's easier this way.


The next morning as I rode down the highway for the first 20 miles of hundreds in front of me, my stomach lurched as I shed tears as I thought about my mother and her hands. I knew how much I would miss her. Her hands are precious but even more so is her heart. I pray as the arthritis creeps into my own, I'll always remember the soft touch and love coming from my mother's hands no matter what and how it made me feel. May my own always reach out and touch as hers do and that the beating of the heart comes through as hers does. Mom, you are a shining example. May I follow well.

Honor her for all that her hands have done,
    and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Proverbs 31:31

10 comments:

Brandee Shafer said...

so thankful you had the time

Susan said...

These could have been my words about my mom's hands 14 months ago. On October 27, 2012 at 7:29 a.m. my mom's hands let go of their earthly grip and embraced our Savior - not more gnarly knuckles, no more arthritic pain -free, free, she's free at last!

GLENDA CHILDERS said...

I recently wrote about my mom's hands, too. Sounds like we both have (had) beautiful moms ... inside and out.

Fondly,
Glenda

Floyd said...

Beautiful tribute to a worthy heart... one I know is not so different from that of her mother. You bring God and your family honor.

Jen said...

Such sacred words of such a beautiful relationship! I agree with Floyd...your life does bring honor, friend! Such a blessing every time I am able to come visit! ~ UNITED with Him, Jen

Jody Lee Collins said...

Kristin, this was beautiful....our hands tell such a story.

Jenn said...

wow.. what a beautiful testimony. I imagine your hands to have a beauty that tells a story of hands used to touch those around you!

a joyful noise said...

Your mother's beautiful hands of time spent in loving is a story we all need to be reminded of. May our hands reach out and touch also. Thank you for sharing with us here at "Tell Me a Story."

Thoughts for the day said...

Not only are the words beautiful but the pictures too. Thank you.

caryjo said...

You just filled this with such sweetness, in both words and Word and photos. Touched my heart... and many others, I'm sure.

Bless you. And it's truly nice to hear/see about an appreciated mother. You truly blessed me by blessing her. Again, thank you.