Since she was left fatherless at the age of ten, and even before that, her hands have worked diligently and willingly for her family. Beginning with the care of the house for her mother and brothers, her hands have worked without stopping all of her life. Her hands have rocked cradles, changed diapers, wiped runny noses, bandaged cuts and bruises, wiped tears, and administered necessary discipline. Her hands have scrubbed floors, washed windows, weeded gardens, washed clothes and driven her sons around on their paper routes. Her hands have never been idle. Beginning with the care of the house for her widowed mother and ending with the loving and tender care of that same mother, her hands have worked willingly all of her life.
Her hands have stitched and sewn, patched and mended, embroidered, appliqued and beautified more garments than could ever be counted. Her hands have fashioned clothes for a granddaughter who was between sizes and a daughter-in-law who was heavily pregnant. Her hands have lovingly made doll clothes for small granddaughters and just as lovingly adorned pillows for daughters and quilts for small great-grandchildren. Her hands have patiently demonstrated her sewing know-how to her granddaughters. Her hands have taken over and completed sewing projects begun and never finished by less skillful hands. Her hands have made curtains and bedspreads and aprons without number for others.
Her hands have fashioned clothing for the poor, and often in cases of need, her hands have quietly written out a check and unobtrusively slipped it into the recipient’s hand with a hug and a “no need for thanks.” Her hands have peeled mountains of vegetables and produced many pots of soup which have found their way to appreciative people. Her hands have prepared meals — thousands of them — for family, for friends and for the stranger who was in need.
Her hands now show that they have worked hard for many, many years and have acquired some aches and pains. Her hands are more dear than ever to all of us.
We love you, Mom.
gehr