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{Straight From the Heart} *The Most Beautiful Hands* 6/12/00
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The Most Beautiful Hands
by Shery Ma Belle Arrieta
I don't think there was ever a time that my mom stopped doing things
for me, even when I was difficult, mean, and downright disrespectful
towards her.
In nursery, she was worried about me because it was my first day at
school. That morning I shooed her away when she tried to wait for my
bus with me. She stayed behind the gates and still saw me off.
On the first school poem reciting contest I joined in first grade, she
helped me with memorization and the actions. I vaguely remember that
the poem was about a turtle trapped in a box. I lost but I still feel that
she was the best coach for me.
All my years in school, I never went to class in rumpled uniform or rumpled
clothes. She ironed each piece of clothing into straightness, and no crease
was ever out of place.
She hand-washed every dress, shirt and pants and I never went around
in clothes with stains or spots. She made sure I wore clean, fresh, crisp,
and neat clothes, even if they weren't new.
I never went to school hungry or without lunch. She made sure she cooked
something for me. We weren't always so well-off and in my young years,
she didn't have that much money to give me so I went to school with packed
lunch. Several times, I got embarrassed by this. I was already in sixth grade
and yet, I still brought lunch with me instead of buying it like all the other
kids.
Numerous times she went up the stage to put medals around my neck.
Numerous times I took her for granted. She was a perfect mother and
I was an imperfect daughter.
A lot of times I get angry at her when she tries to tell me something or
lecture me. I would not speak to her for weeks. I would stop eating the
food she cooked, avoid being in the same room with her. One of our
worst fights drove her to the hospital due to a rise in her blood pressure.
I realized what I did and told her I was sorry.
A few months later, I was back to hurting her again. A few weeks ago we
got into another fight. It was one of the worst fights. There was shouting
and crying and hurling of hurting words.
Finally, I broke down and told her everything. I've been so afraid that she
couldn't take what had happened to me, that she wouldn't understand. But
I was wrong. She held me tight and together we cried.
Her hands never stopped stroking my hair. They gave me incredible comfort
and they spoke unconditional acceptance of me - however, whatever and
whichever way I come to her. They spoke a million times of accepting and
re-accepting me, no matter how many more times I would falter and hurt
her.
It's very seldom that mom would get her hands manicured. Those few times,
the color chipped off after only a day. It's because she had dishes to wash
and clothes to launder and iron.
Her hands are thick. They're calloused and have blisters. Her fingernails
are always short. The skin on her hands is dry.
One would say my mother's hands are ugly. I will be the first one to
disagree. I know how she spent the hours using those hands for over 24
years. I know who she used those hands for. I know the love that went
into every blister, every scar, every dry cell, every broken nail.
I look at her hands and I see the tangible evidence of her love for me. I
will not have any more need for words to tell me of her love.
My mom has the world's most beautiful hands. All I need to do is look at
them to prove it.
© 2000 Shery Ma Belle Arrieta
mailto: iamshery@msc.net.ph
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Bio:
I am a writer based in the Philippines. Recently, I, along with 40
other writers around the world, came out with a free ebook for
mothers to celebrate Mother's Day. MOTHERS: Recollections,
Stories and Poetry can be downloaded free from my website, the
e-Writer's Place at http://ewritersplace.com.
Also, in time for Father's Day, I have again compiled an ebook
for dads. If you would like to have your own copy of the ebook
sent to you through email (only 373Kb), please email me at
mailto: iamshery@msc.net.ph and put "Dad ebook" in the subject.
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Thought For The Day:
"Only when we have knelt before God, can we stand before men."
Verse for the Day:
"Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he
may exalt you in due time."
1 Peter 5:6
Kid's Thought For The day:
"Everyone's afraid of noises at night."
Parent's Thought For The Day
"I always wondered why babies spend so much time sucking their thumbs.
Then I tasted baby food."
(Robert Orben)
Coach's Thought For The Day
"There is plenty enough room at the top,but not enough to sit down."
(Fred Shero, NHL coach)
Deep Thought For The Day:
"If you accidentally eat plastic fruit, do you throw up that wacky
fake vomit?"
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/_/\/\ MICHAEL T. POWERS
\_\ / THUNDER27@aol.com http://members.aol.com/Thunder27/index.html
/_/ \ "For I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but
\_\/\ \ Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live for the Son
\_\/ of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20
Video Imagery (Michael's Video Production Business)
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seconds my mom was crying and my dad did too. They said it was
the best Christmas gift we could have given them!! You did such
a beautiful job! They were so suprised and so touched---they
really, really, really loved it. Thanks for helping to make it so
special to us all. My mom mentioned how the songs were perfect for
the video too! Thanks again!"
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