Gift of Hands Activity
Gift of Hands Activity
This activity was given to us by Candice from the Yahoo YW list,
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Sisters, I just had to write and tell you what a fabulous evening we had with our girls Wednesday night. The idea came from the wonderful sisters who went through the manual and wrote activities to go with the lessons. All it said was the Gift of Hands. So we went with it.
We have several girls who we felt needed an intense experience with the Spirit so we planned the night that way. IT WORKED!!! 🙂 Yippeee!
Here’s what we did. We began with a mini-talk on Jesus’ hands by a member of our presidency. (see below) It really
brought the Spirit in. There were many sniffles in the room. Then the presidency and the advisors sang for the girls “His Hands.” (sung by Joy Gardner, click to see where to buy the music not sheet music, I am not sure where you get that, written by Kenneth Cope)Â When we first all stood up with music their eyes got really big. We have often volunteered them for musical numbers and had them rehearse over and over again. They were pleasantly surprised to be the audience this time. The
song and talk went perfectly together and the Spirit in the room intensified. Many tears ~ and miracle of miracles ~ many were from the eyes we hoped would tear up! Then we excused ourselves and asked them to sit and
ponder the feelings they were feeling for just a minute or two. The next part will require some logistics planning specific to each ward.
We had arrived early and sep up a “Spa” in another room where we planned on giving each girl, one on one, the best manicure we knew how. We had bins with warm peppermint water (one volunteer had been filling them during the
talk and music), salts, lotions, polish remover, cotton ball, Q-tips, files, loads of polish, and towels ~ you name it. We had called 2 weeks in advance for women in the ward who would be willing to volunteer their services so that each girl could have her own “tech.” Once we explained what we were doing we had no problem getting everyone we called to excitedly agree to help. We had several tables, 2 or 3 girls and their “techs” at each table. Lots of cushioned chairs so they would be comfortable and be able to put their feet up if they wanted to (none of them did, hmmm). We had quiet music playing in the background. We brought the girls in and escorted them to a station. One leader was in the kitchen with 2 blenders making delicious fruit smoothies (with umbrellas even) then came in with a
huge tray to serve everyone. We had a great night of conversation and laughter. We got to know the girls so much better. The girls felt absolutely pampered, spiritually and “manicure-ally.” They all were
thrilled by the time they went home.
We had a great night. If anyone is struggling for activity ideas this is one I am happy to share and whole heartedly encourage.
Here is the talk:
I would like each of you to look at your hands for a moment. Think about all of the things you used them for today. (little pause) Think about the good things you used them for.
(WAIT)
Jesus said, *For I have given you an example that ye should do as I have done to you.* (John 13:15)
Let*s remember some of the things Jesus did with His hands. We may not be able to work the same miracles that He did but in some way we can do the same good.
First to come to mind as we think about Jesus are the many people He touched and healed. Let*s remember just a few of them:
* The leper: *And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him*and immediately his leprosy was cleansed.* (Matt. 8:2-3)
* Peter*s mother-in-law, sick and feverish: Jesus *touched her hand, and the fever left her.* (Matt 8: 14-15)
* The ruler*s daughter, whose death they were mourning: Jesus *took her by the hand and the maid arose.* (Matt 9:25)
* The 2 blind men who pleaded for mercy: Jesus *touched their eyes*and they were opened.* (Matt 9:27-30)
* And we can*t forget Malchus, the servant of the high priest who went with Judas to capture the Savior. Simon Peter, wanting to protect the Lord, drew his sword and cut off the ear of Malchus. Jesus knew that He must be taken, told his disciples to put away their swords and then *He touched his ear and healed him.* (Luke 22:49-51)
o We may not be able to restore sight or life but can we do more to relieve the suffering and heartache of those around us? *to lighten their burdens? A gentle touch can be a powerful thing.
When Peter walked on the water toward Jesus and then began to be afraid and sink, Jesus *stretched forth His hand, and caught him.* Are there any around us who are sinking in sin or despair or fear, who could use a hand climbing back to a safer path? (Matt 14: 29-31)
Jesus laid His hands on the 12 apostles and gave them a calling to preach the gospel. We as women don*t set others apart but when we are set apart do we use our hands to magnify our callings?
At His last supper with His apostles, He took the position of a servant and knelt before each one of them and gently washed the dust off of their feet. Could we use our hands to give more service? (John 13:4-6)
One day Jesus went to the temple, and found people had made it a *den of thieves.* How important the temple must be for this is one rare occasion when we see the Lord get upset. He overthrew the tables and chairs, spilled the money out and cast all of them out and said, *My house shall be called the house of prayer.* For our part, we can cast all sin out of our own lives and take ourselves, clean and pure, to the temple. (Matt 21:12)
When the time was come for Him to atone for our sins He went to the Garden and there clasped His hands in prayer on our behalf. Jesus prayed that we would resist evil, that we would repent through His atonement, that we would know that our Heavenly Father loves us and that we would feel the joy of standing before Him again, clean and pure. (John 17) Do we clasp our hands in sincere prayer? Do we ask for help resisting evil? Do we ask for help repenting? Do we ask to feel our Father*s love? Do we ask for the help we need to return to our heavenly home?
And finally, one of the last things Jesus did with his Hands, before the soldiers pierced them with large nails, was to carry the cross that He would be nailed to. He has asked us to carry our own crosses, or in other words, to keep our hands clean by overcoming temptation, by avoiding every worldly lust and by keeping His commandments. (Mathew 16:24)
We use our hands every day. Let*s take good care of them. Let*s use them to give service, to help the sick and broken hearted, to serve in the church, to pray and to live righteous lives. Let*s make our hands like Jesus* hands.
