Look at the hands............

I love nice hands on a female, always have.  Unfortunately, I have never had nice hands. Since early childhood, I have had the embarrassing habit of biting my nails.  After I grew into a teenager, I determined to stop. 

Over the years, I have had varying degrees of success.  From time to time, I still have trouble with disciplining myself in that area.  Over the past few weeks, I have bitten all but one nail almost into the quick on my left hand and one on the right hand.  ~~SIGH~~




My left hand...
please excuse the sore, I ran into the wall!


Tonight as I sat typing, I noticed something I found interesting.  On my right hand, only my 'pointing' finger nail is bitten off.  The others are of medium length, about the length I prefer.  On my left hand, only the 'ring' finger nail has survived the onslaught from my kisser.




My right hand....
so masculine looking, not like a lady's hand at all!


I began to think, how appropriate.  My 'pointing' finger was the only messed up finger on my right hand.  Perhaps because I've been guilty of pointing out other's faults too often?  And, amazingly enough, only my 'ring' finger on my left hand had a nail that looked remotely acceptable.  There's an old legend that might just explain that.

In ancient Egypt, brides were instructed to wear their wedding rings on their left 'ring' finger because of the belief that the vein in that finger connected directly to the heart.  That vein became known as the vena amoris, even unto this day.  The tradition has followed into western Christian cultures and is where most western Christian couples wear their wedding rings today.

Now, I'm not a medical expert and I have no idea if the legend contains one iota of truth.  Frankly, I don't want to know and don't care.  It's a good story and I'm stickin to it!  If you know, don't tell me.  It works better for my post if I don't know!

However, as I contemplated that further, I thought how appropriate that the finger connected to my heart would be the one to thrive.  After all, my heart is where my source of life dwells, it is the home of my Saviour! 

Vena amoris, the formal Latin  name of the vein, means "the vein of love".  How about that?  Love is the thread that holds us all together....husband to wife, parent to child, friend to friend, neighbor to neighbor...Christ to sinner!  It is the source of our being, the reason for our existence.

So, I'll go to church tomorrow a little bit less embarrassed by my hands.  Instead, I'll look down to be reminded that love is the key, the thread that holds me to Jesus.  I'll think of His nail scarred hands.  It is His love that reached down to me even before I was born.  When I am so unlovable, He never walks away.  I could never do anything to deserve His love and that is the beauty of it.  It's mine just for the asking.  Praise God for His matchless love!

"Look at me. I stand at the door. I knock.

If you hear me call and open the door,

I'll come right in and sit down to supper with you.

Conquerors will sit alongside me at the head table,

just as I, having conquered, took the place of honor at the side of my Father.

That's my gift to the conquerors!"

Revelation 3: 20-21