The Handprints and Footprints of our Lives

                                                                           

                                                                          

How many jelly-stained fingerprints have I washed from windowed glass?

How many times have muddied footprints traipsed across my clean kitchen floor? Now, no more.

Many, I would say since I have lived in my home for 24 years. Handprints all over my windows. Footprints walking all over my floors. Now, out my doors.

Never to be fully eradicated. 

Never to be completely erased.

Jelly-filled fingers. Muddied messy steps - all aggravations before to become bygone blessings today and tomorrow and the day after that. I reflect and store them deep in my heart.

My boys placed their handprints in our driveway as it was poured. Again, that happened 24 years ago. My boys were growing. We were building a home as planes were exploding over the World Trade Center. Sadly, their indentions have smoothed beyond recognition or notice over time. Kinda like our remembrance of 911 has too smoothed over time.

I still know they're there because they're still there. 

These youngsters of mine also painted their handprints in my laundry room like flowers blooming above my mud-sink. All of this was a cherished reminder of days too soon gone by. These works of art & heart lasted through time until it was time to cover them with fresh paint for fresh owners of this said mud-sink.

Big Bad Paint can cover but it can only conceal what I know is real.

Handprints can be buried below layers of paint but never truly removed from my walls...from my memory...from my heart!

This was a timely revelation from my daughter-in-law. She simply yet profoundly said, "People will never know the wonderful things under that paint."

Her words brought me perspective.

Her words brought me comfort.

Her words brought me closure.

Her sharing a passing word pacified this momma's heart. The handprints and footprints of our lives can be wiped away or painted over but never fully removed. They remain long past our leaving. 

New homeowners won't realize it, but we left our mark. Our mark will stay. It can't be washed or painted away. Even the Bible verses over our doorposts will remain though hidden below fresh coverage. God's Word left its mark. It can never return void. 


Handprints remain

beneath grime and stain.

Linger deep in my heart

never to depart.






 

Comments

  1. AnonymousJune 6, 2024 at 6:39 AM

    Angela, this must be my favorite post yet! My sons may not come around but their handprints and footprints will never be erased from my heart. Amen.
    Ginger

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Angela GarvinJune 8, 2024 at 11:12 AM

      Amen, dear friend! We have that in common and we can both be thankful to treasure all their imprints on our heart!

      Delete

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