Beautiful hands we all admire.
    There are other hands of inner beauty, helping hands, always ready to help those in need. Gentle and loving hands, reflecting kindness and love for everyone, regardless of race, color or creed.
    There are friendly hands that give a warm handclasp to everyone. There are hands that give of time and money to alleviate need and suffering. And there are praying hands. Our Saviour had all these.
    My mother's hands were lovely. She was always ready and willing to help her neighbors. She visited the sick. Her hands gently stroked the fevered brow and smoothed the pillows as she spoke encouraging words.
    When there was a death, she was always available to help in any way she could.
    She was kind and good to her children. We were taught to obey our parents and respect them.
    Mother had praying hands. If we had problems we could not solve, we would go to her with them. If they were too difficult for her to find the right answer, she would say, "Let's go to prayer." And we always got the right answer.
    Mother's influence has guided our lives through the years.

Mellie Smith
February 15, 1968