"Old Fingers"

Lord, I love those grandkids,

I wrap my arms around,

There’s lots of love and laughter,

And I enjoy the sound,

Of the sweetness in their voices,

When they look down at my hands,

And then they ask the question,

I hear it from my grands,

What happened to your fingers,

They’re so bent and twisted, see,

Your knuckles look so swollen,

As they’re resting on my knee.

My mind goes back to childhood,

When they did not look like this,

I looked at grand-dad’s fingers,

Now mine are just like his.

I remember my own mama’s,

Hers twisted like a claw,

Sometimes it was a bother,

Hard for her to paint or draw,

But I’m swinging ropes and hammers,

And I still grip the reins,

But those old knuckles can get noisy,

Wake me up with aches and pains.

So I just tell the kiddos,

That I had to fight a bear,

And that’s why all my fingers,

Are the worse for wear.

And then they laugh and giggle,

And off to run and play,

And I rub my hands together,

Pop Aleve and say,

Lord, please keep on a-holding,

My hand and life in Yours,

And never let me go, Lord,

And open the right doors,

So I can love these grandkids,

And all my children, too,

Keep my hands uplifted,

And show me what to do.

And, Lord, please remind me,

When these old fingers ache,

That the day is coming,

When I’ll finish and You’ll take,

My thankful soul to heaven,

Where all is light and praise,

Till then let me be ready,

And Your Kingdom banner raise.

“For I am the Lord your God, who upholds your right hand, who says to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you.’” (Isaiah 41:13, NIV)

There is something tender about hand-holding. Holding a child’s hands gives them security. When lovers hold hands it’s a sign of affection and companionship. God says through the ancient prophet that He will hold our hand and because He does, we have nothing to fear. It’s good to know we have a hand-holding God.

Lord, hold our hands and hearts, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Bill Anton, used by permission. Thanks, Bill, and God bless you.