Dear son: Here’s what Daddy is building when he uses his hands

We stood in the barn the other day, and Daddy was building handcrafted tables for a friend’s living room. With each stroke of the brush, you watched his hands moving back and forth.

“That smells so good!” you exclaimed as he varnished the wood. Soon enough, you asked for the brush.

You see, Daddy uses his hands to provide for our family so you can have your chocolate milk, extra cheesy goldfish, spaghetti and meatballs, trains, clothes and a warm room to sleep in every night. He works hard to give you a full life.

Often, his labor results in bruises and cuts, and you run to the house and grab the Star Wars bandages. After a long day, sometimes Daddy goes to bed shortly after you. He knows that the good things you get to enjoy don’t magically fall from the sky.  

When Daddy’s out in the barn, he’s using his gifts and making our town a better place. He’s providing a side table for a mama to set her coffee mug down while she kicks up her worn feet in the chair. He’s creating a farm table for gatherings so people can draw closer to one another and connect. He’s making shelves to help someone’s life become less chaotic and more organized. He’s providing a rustic entryway piece to rest a picture frame on that keeps a loved one’s memory alive.

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