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Dear Owner of The Praying Hands,
First and foremost, I am ever thankful to God for the blessing of being gifted in woodcarving. Fifty-plus years have passed since I made my first carving of praying hands in 1971. It was a small piece of pine; all I had to carve with was a pocket knife and an EXACTO knife. My mother asked me to submit this humble attempt at the iconic pattern of praying hands for my age group at the CYO hobby show at St. James Catholic Church, Falls Church, VA. It took first place in its class, not because it was good, but because I was the only ten-year-old who submitted a wood carving that day.
Little did I know, the carving represented a little light of faith that God was slowly forming in me while I was at CCD at St. James. It wasn't in the doing of the carving, but the carving going on in me, shaping my soul. Many years passed. Many carvings ensued. I always wanted to do proper justice to the pattern eventually.
My father, Lowell, also a wood carver, never discouraged me from aspiring to carve. His tools became mine, bequeathed to me in his passing in 1989.
For many years, I walked around with this pattern in my head (and folder). I regret that my Dad could never see these praying hands come to completion. Dad's tools are a century old now, but as I use them, they keep my memory of him alive.
Before my mother passed, I promised her that I would honor my father by never stopping carving. Mom was afraid I would let it go. Since her prompting and prodding gave me the initial confidence and inspiration to carve, I kept my promise.
In 2007, I completed my first attempt at The Praying Hands pattern. The second completed piece went to my best man, Elias, in 2009. The third, The Praying Hands piece, was donated in a silent auction to benefit my daughter's high school choir in Albuquerque, NM. All my wood carvings were personal gifts for my closest friends and loved ones.
In 2015, I suffered a stroke. Blood thinners kept me from being a carver. Once off the blood thinners in 2016, I was ever thankful that I could return to holding a SHARP object in my hands. Life got busy again, and I became complacent and put it away for a bit. In October 2020, I came down with Covid. That December, blood clots formed in my lungs, and the blood thinners ripped any desire to carve from my mind. I could not carve. I didn't realize this gift from God was so precious. Such a blessing this gift had been, and I was in danger of squandering it.
Now, retired from public service, and with all the extra time on my hands, I have realized that my gift had not been used for the glory of God. I have thought about good and proper use of my time and have grown in my desire to dedicate my carving gift to HIM. HIS glory. I now continue carving only for God's glory and to benefit the needs of St. Joseph on the Rio Grande Church. What better way to make my favorite pattern, The Praying Hands? This piece helps the SJRG Youth Faith Formation, for it was in the youth group many years ago that my heart grew into what it is now, filled with faith, love, and thanksgiving.
This carving represents my faith and my hope that it will ever inspire those that see it hanging or sitting in some quiet nook in someone's home to pray always and everywhere, in Jesus' name, to God our Father. Protect your faith and be strong in your love for God, and adore Him for all his continual blessings in our lives. Our gifts are from God and can be quickly taken from us anytime. In HIS great design and His holy will, PRAY ALWAYS.