Those Strong Hands

Written in Memory of Stephen Patrick Dean, Sr.

Last night I read the news that a long-time friend had passed after a protracted battle with cancer. My heart grew heavy with grief and sympathy for his family. I spent a few minutes thinking about the memories we had enjoyed together as our sons grew up friends. After thinking quietly for a brief time I realized that most of my memories somehow involved Steve’s hands; hands I perceived as strong, tough and capable. The thought consumed me. Steve expressed who he was by doing. His hands were the tools with which he worked, cared, gave and so much more. I will do my best to share my thoughts but I doubt I will do justice to the memory of a great man.

Those were the strong hands of a young man who enlisted in the Army and served as a Military Police officer.

They were the strong hands that both offered service to the troops and enforced law among those same troops.

Those were the strong hands of a husband.

They were the strong hands that held close the woman he loved.

They were the strong hands that offered comfort when life seemed heavy.

They were the strong hands that offered consolation and support when the children just seemed to be a bit too much.

They were the same strong hands that brought smiles and pleasure to his wife when she crazily thought that maybe another child wouldn’t be so bad.

They were the strong hands that provided for the family he and his wife built together, growing and flourishing in the love they shared.

Those were the strong hands of a father.

They were the strong hands that so gently held a newborn child, cradling a new life.

They were the strong hands that protected that life, worked for sustenance and provided care to that child.

They were the strong hands that provided guidance, offered supported and enforced discipline as that child grew into adulthood.

Those were the strong hands of a grandfather.

They were the strong hands that held infants with knowledge and experience.

They were the strong hands that offered assistance to new parents and demonstrated invaluable parenting skills.

They were the strong hands that entertained, performed tricks, and taught experiences brought greater value because they were taught by granddad.

Those were the strong hands of a capable hard worker.

They were the strong hands that handled tools with surety.

They were the strong hands that performed tasks without complaint of discomfort even as they displayed callouses and scars from the years of such use.

They were the strong hands of a hard worker who approached each job with motivation no matter how he felt that day or how mundane the job might seem. It was important to someone and he gave each task the value that ‘someone’ felt it required.

Those were the strong hands of a coach and mentor.

They were the strong hands that patted players’ backs as they hustled out onto the field.

They were the strong hands that lifted fallen players up, brushed them off and got them back in the game.

They were the strong hands that carried gear to and from, back and forth, insuring the team had what it needed to perform at its best.

Those were the strong hands of charitable man.

They were the strong hands that lifted tools and performed tasks to help neighbors – and darned near anyone else who asked for assistance.

They were the strong hands that lifted, put on display and sold countless Christmas trees in support of the local sports teams, without complaint for all the needle scraps and pokes others would cringe at.

They were the strong hands that took notes and expressed thoughts as he volunteered his presence, advice and values on several committees in support of companies and communities.

Those were the strong hands of a good man.

They were the strong hands that reached down to help others up.

They were the strong hands that offered a pat on the back for a job well done.

They were the strong hands that held the suffering and offered comfort.

They are the strong hands now cradled in the even stronger hands of our Lord.

Heaven is surely better off for the presence of Stephen’s strong hands.