My Daddy's Hands

As I listen to Holly Dunn's song, "Daddy's Hands", it reminds me of my Daddy's hands. Although my daddy has been in heaven a long time,I can remember the story of how my parents met in 1943.Dad's sister had a cabin in Duluth , Minn. Dad didn't know that he would be holding hands with the beautiful brown-eyed, curly black-haired Helen and that he would make her his war bride. Dad fell in love with the beautiful 5'2'' Helen. The cabin had bunk beds , but Dad found a way to hold hands, reaching down from the top bunk to her bunk below. Dad continued " the love in his hands" in writing love letters, when he was overseas in 1944. But before he went overseas, Daddy and Mom were holding hands in marriage at Camp Atterbury, Indiana on that Jan.11,1944. Their love and holding hands continued until the day he passed on to heaven after 29 years of marriage. My dad was a quiet man and he showed his love for others by respecting others. In the "love letters" he sent to Mom , he said that he was true to America and fighting for freedom in WWII but he was true to his "sweetheart" Helen and knowing that she was true to him helped and inspired him to get through the days during WWII. When Dad came home from Europe in Sept 1945, his "loving hands" held little violets that he gave to my mom on that Father's Day, June 16th, the day I was born! He smiled down on his little dark-haired, with green eyes just like his, baby girl. Me! Daddy's "loving hands" held mine when I crossed the street and when I went to kindergarten. I became a kindergarten teacher and they say that all you ever learned , you learned in kindergarten. But ,I believe holding "loving hands" taught be love when Daddy held my hand. Today, one of my greatest joys , is in holding my three year old grand daughter's hand. Abby Helen's "loving hand" holding my"loving hand". I will never forget my dad's hands over the years. Dad worked at USS Steel in Morgan Park, Duluth , Minn. Dad would have to bandage his hands because the steel from the nail machine would sometimes "spit" out steel particles and damage his "loving hands". His hands worked for 28 years because it was his job , and that was what he did to provide for his family and to make us safe and secure. His "loving hands" went every payday to the bank to buy bonds for my brother and me. Family first! That's what I learned and always will appreciate the "love in Daddy's hands.

Submitted by Anonymous

Love