While giving water to the devotees on their hands before they put water on Tulasi Maharani, I was reflecting how glorious are the hands and the palms of devotees.
King Kulashekhara mentions in his Mukund Mala Stotra a very beautiful verse that says,

alam alam alam ekā prāṇināṁ pātakānāṁ
nirasana-viṣaye yā kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇeti vāṇī
yadi bhavati mukunde bhaktir ānanda-sāndrā
karatala-kalitā sā mokṣa-sāmrājya-lakṣmīḥ

By themselves the words “Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa” are sufficient to drive away the sins of all living beings. Anyone who possesses devotion for Lord Mukunda that is densely imbued with ecstasy holds in the palms of his hands the gifts of liberation, worldly influence, and wealth.

This is the power of just the palms of a devotee!

When the fruit-vendor came to Vrindavan, Krishna who was a little child then, wanted to have some fruits. He brought a handful of grains in his hands which scattered and fell down while he came. The fruit vendor became so enchanted by Krishna. She very lovingly placed many fruits on Krishna’s palms. By this small offering of love, Krishna filled the basket of the fruit vendor with valuable jewels and her heart with the gift of devotion.

Devakinandan Dasa Thakura, who was Gopal Chapal before, and who learnt his lesson the harder way, glorifies devotees in the following manner:

brahmāṇḍa tārite śakti dhare jane jane
e veda-purāṇe guṇa gāya jebā śune
In all of the Vedas and Puranas it is said that each of the devotees of Sriman Mahaprabhu possess powers to deliver an entire universe.

While singing Tulasi Arati, we are ultimately glorifying a dearmost devotee of the Lord. When we glorify devotees, then Lord becomes pleased.

Therefore, it is so very important to attend the morning aratis. In mangal-arati, we glorify the guru. In Narsimha-arati, Prahlada’s glorification invariably comes in, and in tulasi-arati, we glorify Tulasi Maharani.

In the beginning of his song, Devakinandan Dasa Thakura glorifies Mahaprabhu’s associates residing at various places and offers respects to each one of them individually.

An essential characteristic of our advancement in spiritual life is how we learn to value devotees in our life.