Untitled

I have a strong belief that somewhere out there, there stands one person for everyone. I don’t mean this in the cheesy, overplayed romantic stereotype of old black and white movies, however.

Every person is given a single hand of God.

A person outside of your parents that raises you mentally for the world and guides you. A person who protects you from the dangers of society until you’re strong enough to fight them alone.

As mine used to say, ‘We all bear out own crosses, Brett. Don’t fight it, deal with it. Stay strong and hang in there, you’ll be alright.”

My hand of God was my grandfather. He helped me through and saved my life on more than one occasion.

His mixed sense of humor and uncensored perception of the world around him helped shape my own.

My hand of God was a true hero. He fought for his country, his name, his wife, and his son. He put everything he stood for in front of his own life, and I dare you to tell him any different.

His “Pry it from my cold, dead fingers” attitude showed me at an early age what was worth fighting for.

My hand of God held the world every single day, or so it seemed. He fought through alcoholism, his memories of Vietnam, Korea, the sudden death of his wife, and did it all without ever giving in. No matter how tough things got for him, everyone else’s safety and sanity was his top priority. And undoubtedly if you’re reading or hearing this, he touched you too.

For my hand of God was never beyond fixing people and snapping them back into reality.

“Suck it up”

“Now what’s wrong?”

If you knew him, you’ve probably heard his stone-cold conviction. He’s probably told you the dead truth, to your face, without so much as flinching.

His word was the greatest contract anyone could ever sign, for he never broke it. Never in my life did I ever hear him tell a lie

I can only imagine he went down fighting, and smiling through it all, because that’s just the way he was.

He left us with the greatest wife and caretaker in the world.

He left us with a son who uses his father’s values to raise his children.

And, love it or hate it, he’s walked you through your hard times kicking and screaming. Because he was the outstretched hand of God leading you through your life.