Beautiful Hands by Mrs. W. H. McKee

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Nov 8, 1910

Beautiful Hands

By Mrs. W. H. McKee

By Mrs W. H. McKee

BEAUTIFUL hands are only those that deeds of love are doing, Beckoning souls from sins away and on toward heaven wooing.

Not of the snow-white grace and charm, patrician, languid air, Are hands that can always truly claim to be the hands most fair.

No; for the sad world's dearest hands, of surest, truest beauty Are ever the hands that will work with love, and never spurn a duty.

The pillows of sick ones often feel the grateful touch of smoothing; The brows of the suffering ones of pain are glad- dened by the soothing.

Dear are the hands that minister, and bring the sweetest rest— These are the hands of beauty true, these are the hands loved best.

Hands that will never weary grow, toiling for others' sake— These will bind up the broken heart, "beauty for ashes" make.

These in their daily tasks find joy, whatever they find to do; Finding a pleasure evermore—these loving hands too few.

Give me the hands of the soothing touch for ach- ing, care-worn brows, Faithful and willing and strong and true, with virtue Heaven endows.

Beautiful hands are the noble hands that joy in homely duty, Patiently laboring day by day—these are the hands of beauty.

Heartily serving, "as unto the Lord," loving the service given, "All to the glory of God the toil," will be the record of heaven.

When in the future, the blissful day of toil and labor o'er, Welcome these same dear hands will find on Eden's shining shore.

Heavenly harps will be swept by hands immortally strong and fair, And music enchanting, celestial sweet, will float upon the air.

But none will there be in that fair host, in that immortal sphere, But knew of the service of love below, and shunned no duty here.

These are the hands that we love to clasp, strong for the task of duty. These are the hands that Heaven's love will clothe with lifeless beauty.