It’s quite interesting that Linda’s prompt for SOCS which I just saw is ‘fingers.
Why I find it interesting is that I woke up this morning and as I was going through my Bible, for some reason my eyes fell on my hennaed hands and my first thought was how my hands and fingers resembled my dads own and for the fun of it, I took a picture.
I remember that as a child, I wanted my fingers to look like my mom’s own. Her fingers were dainty and nicely shaped, while mine took after my fathers own.
As the years went by, I grew to love mine as much as I love the man who passed on the genes.
His hands were hardworking and I believe that I inherited this trait. His hands were upright and as honest as could be and he had green fingers. Living things thrived in his care and plants bloomed generously in our garden.
I still remember, maybe I was four or less, his hands holding mine and guiding my fingers to scribble on my blackboard.
I remember vividly like yesterday as he walked me down the aisle and he took my hand with my beautifully painted fingers and placed them in my husband’s hands and in a gruff voice, he instructed my dear Himself to make sure that he looked after me.
Who knows, maybe I might equally have green fingers. I have moved around so much from one country to the other, that the last time I grew anything was several years back in my house in Nigeria. I look forward to the coming years to discover my green fingers.
Hold my hands in faith
And clutch my fingers tight
I will walk you through this journey
For you are not alone.
© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha
You inherited his fingers and received his hardworking spirit. Win win 🙂 God knew what he was doing.
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He sure does know what he is doing.
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I inherited me Ma’s hands…full of arthiritis…ouch 😦
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Ouch! My mum has arthiritis now as well and I know how much it bothers her. How do you cope with it?
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Ibuprofin eases the pain a bit. It’s a head wrecker. Wears you down some days but hey, you just have to get on with it. xx
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I like your spirit. You can’t let it keep you down.
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Loving the henna btw. xxx
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Thank you 🙂
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Oh, beautiful tribute to your dad!
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Thank you dear Diane. When Linda said fingers, I couldn’t think of anything else.
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What a lovely post 🙂
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Thank you very much 🙂
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Oh my goodness Jacqueline this has brought tears to my eyes it is so beautiful. The saying at the end actually made my mouth open and take a breath, I love it so! I smiled through the tears of joy as I read this, as I could feel the love you have for your father as I do for mine and totally understand your gratefulness to have his hands. What a most touching post, once again your words are so poignant. I love all that you write, I’ll keep on saying it you are truly gifted!! Have the most marvelous day, go plant something… 😉
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Thank you so much Deb. We are very lucky to have good fathers. I will go and look for something to plant. Have a beautiful day my dear friend 🙂
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Yes we are very lucky! Thank you! 🙂
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The henna is beautiful. I think I might have my grandmother’s hands. Parents were very long-fingered. Mine are not, piano playing was a stretch for me. Mine are more functional for hard work, endurance, and kneading dough. ☺
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You’ve got capable and good hands. They do some real pretty henna works here, so sometimes I indulge. Thank you Van. Have a lovely weekend 🙂
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💖 You, too, Jacqueline.
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You have pretty hands!
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Thank you Joy. Maybe it’s the henna that’s done the trick 😉
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What is henna?
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It’s a painted dye made from plants and used to draw flowers on the hands. Lasts for a week or two.
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How wonderful! I could see little flowers on your hands but even without that I think you have lovely hands.
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Thank you my lady 🙂
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Using two pairs of vinyl gloves should help trememendously with the henna. Thats usually what I do while applying it to my hair.
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Oh you use it? You are able to get it in the US?
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Yea I use to buy them at an Indian emporium but now I just buy on amazon.
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That’s brilliant. I have only used the painting on the hands. Will try it on my hair now that I am natural 🙂
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I love henna but my hands are too old now.
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I don’t think it would matter how old your hands are. Over here, I see a lot of these old Arab ladies all decorated with them and it looks quite nice on them 🙂
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The henna looks pretty and you have lovely nails too Jacqui. If you have your dad’s hardworking hands then they are hands to be proud of 😉
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Thank you Judy. It took a while to get used to them and now I totally love them 🙂
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Your hands are so pretty with all the henna. How wonderful to have hands like your Dad, a physical thing you can look at and always remember him. It’s funny how we get certain parts of our body and see them in certain relatives. When my Great Grandmother E passed away my family looked at her hands and my hands and said you have her hands. I did not know her so well, she died before I was fourteen. But I have this memory baking cookies with her when I was three or so. And of course her hands. Hope you are doing okay with your Dad’s loss. God Bless.
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It’s really a beautiful thing how we get interconnected with our loved one’s and it totally makes me smile when I look and see certain resemblance of my dad. I am doing okay, though some days can be a bit tough. Thank you Mandi.
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Oh gosh, I got teary at the end–this is a beautiful post of love for your father, and appreciation of your hands. I’ve been so critical of mine lately that you gave me pause–I forgot completely that often they are “God’s hands”, used to cook for others, or type encouraging notes. I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for your words today, Jacqueline–thank you. Heading to early church shortly, and with a lighter heart.
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I am glad you found it inspiring. Have a beautiful day today 🙂
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Thank you, you too!
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6 diamond fingers with the necessity and the importance of having them….
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Thank you Mihrank 🙂
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This is such a lovely post. It’s good to have something to remind you of your dad. 🙂
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Yes indeed. Now I love the hands very much. Thanks for your kind words 🙂
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You’re welcome, my dear friend 🙂
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Beautiful …
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Thank you 🙂
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A very nice post weaving the stories of the hands. 🙂
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Thank you Deborah. My regards. Jacqueline 🙂
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Very touching, Jacqueline. 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing your story as part of SoCS.
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Thank you Linda. It’s my pleasure to participate 😊
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