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Friday, May 25, 2012

Daddy's Hands

Daddy's hands giving Mom cake
I can't remember this, but mom always told me that when I was a baby, my dad had just started his practice.  He would see patients all day, come home for dinner, give me my bath, and go back to work.  I wish I could remember his hands, playing with me in the bathtub.

Daddy's hands loving on Mom
When I was 4 yrs old, my mom would read and re-read Dr. Seuss books to me, teaching me how to sound out each word. I remember one night, when Daddy got home, I climbed up in his lap and read "Go Dogs Go" to him.  His hands turned each page for me as I read.

My dad was always one to take care of things right away.  If a chair broke or a light bulb burned out or yard work needed done, he didn't procrastinate doing what needed to be done.  I can picture his hands repairing and mending, fixing and working.

Daddy's hands teasing my son
Every morning before Dad went to work, he and Mom would pray together in the kitchen.  I can still see her hands in his as they prayed for us kids and any other loved ones who were on their hearts.  As his practice got established, he didn't have to go to work at night anymore.  He would come home and his first moments were off limits to us kids, as he would stand in the kitchen, kissing Mom, sharing a martini with her.  I can picture them talking together before we sat down to dinner, his hand holding that martini glass, his other hand tickling or teasing Mom.

One summer, he and I built a railroad tie and rock stairway up around a hill in our back yard.  I can see his strong hands lifting those ties and carrying them to their spot.  He would show me how to place the gravel and the pavers around each one.

Daddy giving my my bath
When one of us kids would misbehave, Dad would sit us down, take his Bible on his lap, and read to us the nature of our sin.  I see his hands holding that Bible, then motioning in the air as he explained why what we had done, was wrong and why we were receiving correction for it.

All through my life, when I think of my dad, I see his hands...Daddy's hands.  They prayed, they caressed, they worked, they built, they gave baths, they held sparklers, they disciplined, they fixed banged up knees, but most of all, they built a family.  My father wasn't much on talking about girl stuff or emotional things...men back then didn't do that. But he showed us, with his hands, that we were the most precious things in the world to him.

Daddy's hands holding me
This week, he came for a visit and I watched his hands, the whole time.  I watched as they held his first great grandson, as he hugged a grandson who was graduating from high school, as he lifted another grandson onto his lap and talked quietly with him.  I saw him get up early every morning for his coffee and his Bible reading.  I think about this family that he built with my mom.  They poured their hearts and their hands into us and I pray I am walking out each of my days, making them proud.  I hope that I have used my hands to give life and love to my children the way that he did for us.  One of my most treasure memories...Daddy's hands.


It's a wonderful thing to be able to look back over my childhood and remember all the love that my dad gave me.  Men didn't talk much in those days.  They gave their love with their hearts and their hands.  Now that my mom is gone, he talks more.  But I still love to watch his hands.  They make me feel sure and peace and loved.  I can never get enough of Daddy's hands!

Dad hugging his grandson
Dad holding his first great grandson

Daddy's hands holding the Bible

Daddy's hands, holding mine, to pray

There's always love in Daddy's hands!



What do you think of when you think about your father?

From His Lap,

22 comments:

  1. Beautiful, Erin! I miss my dad every day, like you miss your mom. What sweet memories the Lord gives us - thank you for helping me recall my daddy's hands!

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    1. Aw, I'm so glad you enjoyed the post and remembered your daddy's hands!! Those precious memories will always be tucked in our hearts to pull out and remember whenever we need them. Thanks so much for stopping by!
      Blessings,
      ~Erin

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  2. such I wonderful post--- unfortunately I don't think of happy thoughts when I think of my farther ( wish I did). Love the pic of you and your dad praying..

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    1. I'm sorry that you don't have happy thoughts of your dad. The good thing is that we can learn from the things our parents did that were hurtful and not make the same mistakes. I'm so honored that you stopped by!
      Blessings,
      ~Erin

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  3. Darn you Erin... I am balling my eyes out right now!! God Bless you, your hands and your Daddy's!! {You left me speechless... yes me!!}

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    1. You made me smile, Carla! I'm glad you enjoyed!
      Blessings!
      ~Erin

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  4. Oh my goodness! What a beautiful post. Every time I come here, I am blessed - by your hands.

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    1. OMG, Taylor, that's the nicest thing you could have said to me. Thank you so much for your kind words! Stop by anytime. :)
      Blessings,
      ~Erin

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  5. Oh Erin I am in tears right now, this is such a touching post, my daddy was my granddaddy, and I loved him with my whole heart. He passed away in 2007, and that broke my heart but I know that he is in a greater place, and watching over me and my family. But I have such loving memories of hugs and kisses, loving words.

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    1. Aw, Pamela. I know that you miss him so much. My mom passed away 7 yrs ago and I think about her throughout every day. It's a blessing to have such wonderful parents to give us the foundation and the heritage to raise our own wonderful families!
      Blessings,
      ~Erin

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  6. What a sweet sweet post, Erin :D I hope your dad read this... you are so lucky to have each other and he sounds like a really great father :)

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    1. Thank you, Anne. He did read it and he sent me the most wonderful note. He was touched and moved by my post. He said that it made his life of hard work, love and dedication worth it.
      Thank you so much for stopping by!
      Blessings,
      ~Erin

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  7. So beautiful Erin. Makes me think of my dad's hands too, and how I loved their strength. Thanks for a special post:)

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    1. I love my dad's hands, Courtney. Their strength gives me strength. I'm glad you had a wonderful dad.
      Blessings,
      ~Erin

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  8. Awww...Erin, how sweet is that! Wish mine was still here to love on. Blessings to you!

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    1. Lynn, I know you miss your dad. I hope you spend Father's Day going back over sweet memories and laugh about the good times you had together!
      Blessings,
      ~Erin

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  9. Touching! So beautiful to see your picture. My dad is 83 and I also like his hands.

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    1. Jedidja,
      Aren't dad's hands wonderful. They build families and homes with their hands and their hearts!
      Thank you for stopping by!
      Blessings,
      ~Erin

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  10. When I think of my dad, I think of his pure gentleness. He was such a loving man. He retired from the air force when I was a young adult and drove school bus for years. Later, he drove for the local transit company and he used it as a way to minister and love on people, many of them marginalized by special needs or poverty. When he passed away, too soon, and when my girls were still small, there were so many people at his funeral who were a part of his life whom we had never laid eyes on. I miss him desperately, but am so thankful that we got to have him in our lives.

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  11. Barbara, I know you miss your dad terribly. But isn't it great to be remembering times with him and catching yourself smiling at the memories! I'm so glad you had a wonderful father! Thank ou so much for stopping by!
    Blessings,
    ~Erin

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  12. Lovely post about your dad. My dad was not great! Your post reminds me of that Amy Grant song. read about my dads here
    http://lonetater.blogspot.com/2008/06/my-6-fathers.html

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    1. Sarita, I'm so honored that you would visit here. I'm sorry that you did not have a great father. Isn't it wonderful to know that we have a heavenly Father who loves us perfectly. I'm going to ck out your blog right now!
      Blessings,
      ~Erin

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Thank you for giving us a little nugget of truth from your heart!

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