Amber

I am blessed to work alongside Amber several times a week. I asked her for a picture of her hands, and her story...she gave me the picture, a list of her traits and told me she isn't good at writing stories. So I get the honor of weaving together this wonderful young woman's story. 

These hands are the hands of humble service. She comes in ready to do whatever needs doing. Load after load of laundry, washed, dried, folded, put away. These hands cook amazing healthy vegetarian meals for our clients, bakes cookies, makes pureed soups for another. These hands chopping and sautéing, introducing new and exotic flavors and fruits that we have never heard of. She works so hard, and coming in after her, I always have a clean slate to begin my day. 

These hands have nurtured, guided, protected, and loved her wonderful 17 year old daughter...always on her own as a single mom. These hands have cared for her body through two additional pregnancies as a surrogate mom, suffered through the pregnancy loss of one baby, and the birth of another, helping couples to become families. 

These hands tend to many rescue animals in her home....her "zoo," as she likes to call it. All are loved and cared for as members of the family. 

I want to tell a story though. One that I will never forget. A story that has continued to mean so very much to me. Amber and I shared a client that we had come to love. This little person was getting ready to leave us. Sometimes despite all that we want, and all the ways that we work for a peaceful passing...it doesn't go that way. This was one of those times. Being born into the world is sometimes very hard, messy, work...and sometimes leaving is too. 

As the daughter, myself, and Amber tended to this hilarious little woman that we had come to adore....we all were shocked, afraid, and so sad at what we were witnessing. Amber gently but immediately took over the hands on physical care, she took charge, and I watched as her hands methodically and lovingly cleaned this woman's tiny body up over and over again. She instructed us on what she needed, what we could do to help, how we could help our little friend to find some comfort. Her hands were steady and strong, sure of what they were doing... and watching her gave me courage. I haver never been so grateful for a co-worker. I watch her heart, her spirit, come out through the work she does with her hands. 

It's an honor Amber...to call you a friend and to get to work beside you. Thank you for letting me share your hands and especially how I see them.