These Hands
These Hands
Grandad sat staring down at his hands
deep in thought, in another place,
His thoughts were far away, in other lands
I sat by him, looked into his face,
āAre you ok Granddad, you seem so quiet
āIām fineā he said, āthanks for caringā
That life etched in his face, you couldnāt buy it
rubbing his hands, sitting, staring
āHave you ever looked at your hands?ā he said
āI mean, really looked at your hands?ā
I stared down with my fingers partly spread
thought about those playground handstands,
I tried to work out the point he was making
He looked, could see the confusion,
on his face a smile started, slowly breaking
he said, āforgive the intrusionā.
āStop and think for a moment, look at my hands
though wrinkled, they were once my tools,
Life has slipped through them like shifting sands
but always weāve followed the rules,
Theyāve put food in my mouth, clothes on my back
as a child Iād fold them in prayer,
Theyāve saved me from harm, kept me on the right track
pulled up my boots, put a comb through my hair.
They have been dirty, raw, broken and bent
they shook as I held our newborn son,
They have covered my face in bad times I spent
but never once have they held a gun,
They trembled with love when I married your Gran
and when I walked your mum down the aisle,
Put bread on the table as a working man
In Godās house they allowed me to smile.
Today, when my body is racked with pain
they hold me up and keep me strong,
Theyāll be there for me again and again
not knowing any right from wrong,
Theyāll be folded when I no longer wake
but, more importantly understand
It will be these strong hands that God will take
as he leads me to the promised land.
Just six months later Granddad passed away
and his words came back to my mind.
As I knelt in the church clasped my hands to pray
for a man who was wise and kind.
Now I am old and grey with silvery strands
With my grandson whom I adore
āGrandad, why are you staring at your hands?
and lifeās circle begins once more.
Eric Harvey 18/07/2020
Recommended1 recommendationPublished in Senior Chatters
Lovely words Tania thank you for sharing.
Sadly, this is not the reality that exists in our modern world.
Thank you nightflyer63, Yes, it is a pity that this does not exist anymore.
I have always loved this story. Loved reading it again. Thank you.
Thank you, Grandmaj.
Such touchingly lovely images come to mind with your words. Not personal ones but the deep longing to experience that kind of moment of shared wisdom and grace. I believe that there are still people and moments like this because there is so much beauty still left in our world that can appear often sad and dark. It remains for us to carry the light of our loving Lord Jesus into a world full of bitter disappointment and try to comfort one another.
Thank you quietmeow29.