Poem for the Fifth Sunday after Trinity

Today’s poem is These are the Hands, by Michael Rosen.

You can hear the author reading the poem here, or you can read the poem here.

When Michael Rosen, a much loved children’s writer, wrote this poem to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the NHS in July 2008 little did he know that 12 years later “these hands” would nurse him for 8 weeks while he was so seriously ill with Covid 19.

In our prayer this week let’s continue to give thanks for the NHS and all the hands that have worked to care for us in these last months. Remember too some of the different people whose hands have ever held yours, cared for you. Picture yourself now safe in God’s hands. How is he shaping you and caring for you?
Trust whatever lies ahead to God. He’s got the whole wide world in his hands.

-Tina Lamb