These Hands ...

Originally Published July 1, 2022

I came across this memory today. A rich memory. My ears can still hear the animated tone of his voice as he reads to my daughter. My body feels the evening warmth of the cabin as the fire crackles and our family love keeps us warm. My nose takes in the cologne of a working man, a sweet blend of fresh air, hard work, and tobacco. I am there, back in this deep rich memory of what used to be.

I cry. Cry as I feel so much love for this man, this little girl, and this life. I miss him deeply, every moment of every day.

As I stare into this memory, I am focused on his hands. I always loved his hands. The breadth of his palm, the length of his fingers, and how they would curve just so. As a little girl, I loved feeling his hand wrapped around mine. There was safety there. These hands. The dark curly hair between his knuckles, the ridged edges of his nails, and even the yellow tobacco stains on his thumb and forefinger. The hands of a working man. Their strength held me up. Their knowledge leads me. Their love embraced me to the end and still does. Only at this moment do I realize just how much I have missed being able to hold these hands.

My dead dad would be 87 today, and on this day I am reminded more than ever of the importance he continues to hold in my life and the life of my children. I love how I see him in my son and now in my brand-new granddaughter. Even more importantly, I am reminded of the role he has played in our lives and will continue to play for even his great-granddaughter - who he has never met on this earth. These hands are now reflected in my son's hands, and as I watch my son wrap his hand around the fingers of his lil one, I know my dad lives on more than ever.

Who we are, and who we continue to become is a product of this man, these hands, and his legacy. It will live on in each of us for generations yet to come. All we have to do is imagine and remember how it feels when these hands wrap around our own. These hands will always hold us up, teach us, and embrace us with his love and his legacy.

Happy 87th birthday, Dad.

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About the author:

Karen Hendrickson is an Elevation Coach, focused on helping others to rewrite their life story, befriend their mortality, and find the richness and magic that lives at the intersection of our lives where life and death meet. When we allow our authentic self permission to shine our life becomes full of MAGIC and GREATNESS.  Contact karenttjourney@gmail.com and start working with her today!