Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas is known as one of the top medical facilities in the country. In the lobby of its Truett Hospital building there is a fascinating display of over 100 bronzed hands. This is the work of Dr. Adriann Flatt who is the former chief of orthopedic surgery at the hospital and a professor who specialized in anatomy and hand surgery. In 1962, Dr. Flatt began a hobby of creating plaster molds of hands which he later cast in bronze. At first, he focused on surgeons' hands to show the diversity of physical features among doctors. But later, Dr. Flatt's work expanded to include famous people like Walt Disney, Louis Armstrong, Dr. Suess, Winston Churchill, and Dwight Eisenhower.

Seeing this exhibit not only evokes memories of well-known persons but also causes you to think about the incredible gift of your own hands. At the end of your arms and mine are God-given tools that can cut mighty trees one day and perform intricate work the next. We cradle children and grandchildren with our hands but also use them to protect ourselves from danger. We can hurt, heal, build up, or tear down.

If we need assistance, we ask if someone can lend us a hand. In honoring an individual, we often are encouraged to give them a hand of applause. Some hands are soft while others are rough and work-worn. Either way, or hands are magnificent instruments for a multitude of purposes.

One of the ways we use our hands is to help others in need. In remembering the virtues of a godly woman, the writer of Proverbs 31 noted, "She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy." That's not just a noble quality for women but for all of us who are part of God's family.

May God multiply the blessings from the work of your hands and pour His favor out on you as you touch the lives of others.