My Father’s Hands and Arms

Proverbs 10:4

Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.

I Thessalonians 4:11

Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

The strength of his hands and arms speaks volumes of my dad. Those hairy, sinewy arms are proof of many hours of labor to provide for the family he loved. Many hours of labor he may not have loved on the line at General Electric; but he did love many more hours of labor in the garden, pitching horseshoes, hugging his wife, four children, and seven grandchildren and at last holding his first great-grandson.

Those arms were always ready to catch us as we ran down the hill to welcome Dad home as he walked up that 45 degree slope of Henry Street each day after returning from his 50 mile commute to General Electric. "Catch me, Daddy" we would yell as we ran toward him. Carrying his aluminum lunch box, he would grab us and greet us with a warm and loving hug. Then, with those hands, he would reach into his shirt pocket and produce a pack of gum, which he willingly shared with us. If there was not enough, we would, unwillingly, split a piece with a brother or sister. But Dad was always willing to share whatever he had.

Shortly after arriving home, Dad would peruse the newspaper then begin preparing dinner or grab the tools (shovel, rake, or hoe) and head to the top of the hill in the backyard and prepare his garden. Working the soil, planting the seeds or seedlings, weeding, watering, harvesting, whatever was necessary at that time of year.

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Dad would always welcome you to come to the garden to work beside him; however, he did the work, not depending on anyone to do it for him. He then shared his bounty with family and friends and cherished the opportunity to do so. "Need some potatoes, tomatoes, green beans?" How many hours did he and Mom string green beans, and then can those beans to share with family and friends throughout the years? Generously and lovingly, they shared the wealth.

In the kitchen, cleaning up after supper, Dad's arms would provide a swing for us as we held on to those strong, hairy arms; he lifted us up, our legs swinging, joyfully laughing. Occasionally, those strong arms would also provide a lesson in discipline, lessons we wouldn't soon forget either. Those lessons were generally harder on Dad than on the receiver. "This is harder on me than on you," he would say. A statement we never understood until years later. Though he obviously knew the importance of discipline, he did not find the job any easier.

A quiet man he has always been, minding his own business and frowning when you found it necessary to comment on someone else's. Dad has lived life to the best of his ability, sharing whatever was given to him with arms and heart wide open.

Those strong, hairy arms and calloused hands are proof of a hard working life; proof of the wealth Dad has accumulated in his life. Though the hands are no longer calloused, the strength in those arms still provides hugs that will endure in my heart forever.

In extending a hand for a handshake, Dad's response was and still is, "We don't do handshakes around here. . ." as he grabs you for a hug you won't soon forget. Those hands and arms will always share the wealth.

Marianne--daughter