Originally Posted by me in September 17, 2011
As a mother I was brought to tears streaming in knowing exactly what Karen Giddings is talking about in saying she wants Lauren's hands.. I know this feeling so well of what my Childs hands mean to me as a mother.. It's one of the very first things that you look at and touch the moment that they are brought into this world taking their first breaths of life.. Those tiny little hands that even as a newborn they reactively cling to and wrap their tiny little fingers and hand around one of our fingers.. As they so rapidly grow out of that newborn stage into that chubby baby stage and those little fingers and hands that we as mothers so often sit and stare at them with amazement, awe, and all their precious beauty.. Soon they aren't even babies anymore but quickly growing into little human beings as children walking and talking.. Using those beautiful little hands to express themselves and to emphasize so much in their little lives.. We, as mothers continually holding, rubbing, and kissing those beautiful little hands and find it amazing how much theyve grown in such a little amount of time.. By this point easily recognizable just whose hands your child has.. Are they little replicas of our own hands?.. or are they mini versions of their daddy's hands?.. Either way they are wonderful in so very many ways to us mothers.. And as time marches on and truly within a blink of our eyes and we turn around and they've grown into a fine young woman or young man.. We still look at their hands as those of our once tiny little babies that were so dependant on us as their mother for every single need.. Now so much has changed.. They no longer depend on us to have their needs met, and they no longer are there at our sides tugging on our pant leg, that we look down and see our little one holding their little hands out to be held and loved by us..
Those are nothing but sweet and precious memories now, but even with our children as grown adult young men and women their precious hands still mean so very much to us as their mothers.. The hands of our child are very precious, very special, and are held close to a momma's heart.. As a mother I know this exact feeling, it's meaning, and exactly what Karen Giddings is talking about in her longing to have her beautiful, baby daughter's hands.. It's a detail that many would not think of or find to be of great importance or relevance but as a mother when I read about Karen's great desire and need to have Lauren's hands.. I know it and it hit me hard, straight to my heart and brought me to flowing tears of being able to relate to exactly what it is that Karen is speaking of in her desire to have those precious hands that she has stared in awe, amazement, and beauty at for so very many years.. Kissed and rubbed them.. Placed many a band aid on the boo boos that Lauren likely had along the way of growing up.. The hands hold so much that people never truly think of or even realize until it is brought to the forefront of such a tragedy..
I pray now more so than ever that God find someway to allow this precious family the tiny solace of having all of her remains.. It is so very important.. I realize that as do I believe that the wonderful men and women volunteering their time from their FBI deskjobs, some even from other states, to come and search thru miles of garbage because they too know the importance that having all of her remains.. Just how much it means to this precious family and I thank them for their kindness and compassion.. May you and your loved one's be richly blessed in return for your acts of kindness with nothing wanted in return.. It's a beautiful thing and I am brought much comfort in knowing there are still very good, caring, and selfless human beings that are willing to give of themselves to the perfect stranger in need.. It warms my heart..
