Stories Collected While Living in France
My Grandparent’s lives were
one of work and prayer.
They were farmers.
They lived by their hands;
large,
soft,
tender hands
perfectly carved
with time.
Their prayers
echo
within my soul,
calling me-
strong
know who you are
and where you have come from.
Those hands that showed me,
that hold me…
Like one of those gymnastic pyramids, we are supported by a vast cast of people, layer upon layer, generation upon generation, below us.
I pray to Mary all the time. I always feel very close to her because she is a woman and mother. Righ now I hope her hand is on my back keeping me from falling.
Beautiful statue.
Connie
Hands can speak a person’s history, lifestyle-whether they have worked hard in manual labor or lived a life of comfort. A person’s nails can show you if they are well-off pefectly manicured or painted. Two hands together can speak a thousand words.
thank you for sharing this photo and thoughts especially on a good friday! i miss spending holy week in the philippines although it is very quiet where i am now and i can reflect….
these words of yours have touched me “Their prayers echo within my soul, calling me-
strong know who you are and where you have come from.”
Corey, it sounds like you have such wonderful people in your family. It’s so reflective in you. You’re wonderful too 🙂
corey, you always manage to continually touch and inspire me.
how very appropriate for sf and for good friday.
i am so blessed to have discovered you and your truly amazing blog.
thank you for this and all that you have shared with us and will continue to…
mary ann 🙂
These last two entries of yours are so beautiful and so appropriate for the season. Your words with the images are pure poetry.
Thank you.
a.
My husband grew up on a farm.
God bless you my friend at Easter and always and this photograph is most precious to me…………..
Springtime bliss and smiles across the miles!
Love Jeanne ^j^
Seems that everything you post reaches out and strikes a chord in my spirit. I love this photo, and truly resonate with your words.
Thank you, Corey!
e
Corey, did we have the same grandparents??!! Mine were similar and my paternal grandmother was certainly a major influence in my life. Thanks for this beautiful post, which reminded me of cherished relatives.
What a beautiful posting and photograph. I am strangely attracted to statues of the virgin, that is, for a nice Calvinist girl.
Love this picture. I am catholic and the statue of the Madonna holds a lot of weight in my religion.I also read your post about France. I want to visit some day…but with four children I will have to wait until they grow older .
I love this image of the virgin Mary, it is serene and beautiful.
I love how you share the personal with this beautiful image. It really makes the whole post complete and lovely.
So tender and beautifully put Corey… Especially the last line ‘that hold me’, I often feel the presence of my grandparents in my everyday goings… May you be held by gentle and loving hands always – dear friend…
oh corey.
this is so beautiful.
touchingly beautiful.
the ways that hands touch.
as do the souls behind the hands that touch.
and the way that your words touch.
oxo
ang.
beautiful poetry. beautiful legacy.
Beautiful photo.
I read this over and over! It is perfect. Just so perfect. I can “see” those hands.
🙂
The photo reminds me of all of the ceramics my grandmother made. They were remarkable pieces. It’s the simple things that I think people stear away from at times, especially with technology of today. I just think of what a remarkable person who must have made that piece.
i could feel my father’s strong warm hands, my mother’s cool, delicate ones as i read your piece. on wild grace’s blog there was a mention of a disabled adult reaching out in the darkness for the comfort of a hand to hold. all these tactile images remind me why we are here together. your grandparents’ caring touch travels in your loving hands now. thanks for being my virtual hand to hold through your blog.
May their example continue to guide and inspire you.
Thank you for your words and pictures, they guide and inspire so many of us.
Happy Easter, and blessings to you and your family.
Again love this Virgin Mary! Was it a flea market find?
Your poem is a good reminder not to forget our lives are built by the hands of the people (grandparents) who worked so hard so that those that came after them could have a better life…..
Happy Easter to you and your family.
oh corey, this is so beautiful and reminds me of my own grandparents–a pastor who helped the local farmers every season in order to make a little extra money and pastor’s wife
As always, your words engage my soul! We pray from our hearts through our hands. An honor reserved for our dear hands.
beautiful Corey.
Bless you, Corey!!! My thoughts and prayers to you and your family for an Easter filled with peace and love.
I always remember my grandparents hands~ to this day they stand out in my mind* all of them- warm when they held mine- soft but very stong;o) they had it right back then didn’t they? another amazingly lovely post Corey***** You make me think and remember the dearest things of all;o) Happy Easter ! xoxo
Lovely photo and sentiments, too. Thanks for sharing them both.
Beautiful picture and inspiring words.
Happy Easter to you.
Pure beauty.
The Power of Hands!
I pray that mine will always be gentle, loving, kind, and helpful.
Thank you for this exquisite post!
Happy and Blessed Easter, Corey!
Such a beatiful bit of poetry! Lovely take on today’s topic!
All too often we forget to appreciate our most precious tools; our hands! We so SO MUCH with them yet give them little or no thought. I think today’s entry for Studio Friday is a great tribute to recognise that which enables us to create! Have a great weekend! I look forward to next Friday’s journey!!
~ Gabi
Such a lovely rendition of this week’s Studio Friday topic! I love your photo of the statue of Mary and think that is such a powerful image, showing just how powerful our hands are!
All too often we forget to appreciate our most precious tools; our hands! We so SO MUCH with them yet give them little or no thought. I think today’s entry for Studio Friday is a great tribute to recognise that which enables us to create! Have a great weekend! I look forward to next Friday’s journey!!
~ Gabi
Your whole site gives out peace and tranquility what and what a wonderful way with words and pictures you have. Your home a peaceful haven and your family so beautiful. Thankyou for allowing me to share the joy. Happy Easter, Judy x
I don’t know why exactly but this post moved me to tears. Amazing.
Stunning and thoughtful. Yes, I think about where I came from all the time and try to live up to that
Beautiful and very inspirational.
With this week’s theme, I only thought of my own hands, not the hands of my ancestors. Thank you for bringing that to light.
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