Back in the day, James Taylor won a Grammy for his version of the song titled “Handy Man”. He was not the first to record the song. That honor went to Jimmy Jones back in 1959. But his version was clearly the one most remembered.
According to the song’s lyrics, the singer is a handyman who fixes broken hearts 24 hours a day, and who further states that “If your broken heart should need repair, then I am the man to see!” Clearly, the singer is asserting that he is the man to see whenever any young lady has been wounded by love.
The year Taylor released his version of the song (1977) was the very year I met the young lady who was destined to become my precious wife. Many a time we listened to that song together. And yet, little did I know at the time how prophetic the verses of that song would one day prove true. Now I do.
As I referenced in an earlier blog last month (HELPING HANDS - April 11, 2023), my wife recently had to undergo Carpel Tunnel Syndrome surgery. In short, her hand was wounded. At the time, both she and I assumed the procedure and its after effects would last just a couple of weeks or so.
Now, five weeks later, we realize how wrong we were. While we are grateful that the surgery was successful, and that her hand is certainly getting better, we realize that the time frame for healing we had originally envisioned was clearly shortsighted.
As it stands, she will not be released by her physician to resume normal activities for another three weeks. That continues to mean no lifting of any object over one or two pounds. It also means no activity that involves vibration of the hand, which might have a negative impact on the healing of the nerve(s) in her wrist.
In other words, that means she cannot wash dishes. Nor can she wash clothes. Above all, it means that she cannot cut grass!
Please understand that the latter activity is something that she dearly LOVES to do! She loves to mow; so she cuts the yard; and I trim, edge, weed-eat, and blow the clippings off the driveway.
My point here is that if you know my wife, then you know she is not one to lie around and make excuse for inactivity! Hence, you will understand how and why she is going crazy with frustration, not only as she has felt tied down for the last five weeks, but even worse, as she will invariably be tied down for another three weeks to come.
For my part, I have found that this whole ordeal has become, for me at least, a time either to put up or to shut up! Sure, I could be her “Handy Man” and do all I could to fix her broken world. No, I could not fix her broken hand. Only the Doctor could do that. But I could wash dishes, clothes, and the like. I could even cut the grass she so obviously likes to cut. After all, what is a mere two to three weeks?
But two to three weeks soon became five weeks. And then we learned that this was projected to stretch out to eight weeks. Ouch!
Now, let me be clear. I am not looking for an “Atta boy!” here. When we went to the altar, we pledged that we would stick together in sickness and in health. But, like all couples, we have a de facto division of labor. And during this time, my share of that labor has slightly increased.
I trust you get the point. It has been said that marriage is not a 50/50 proposition. Rather, it is more like 100/100. If you love someone, you give 100%, at all times and in all circumstances! Given this, there is no doubt that what I have been called upon to do for my wife is a labor of love.
What is more, she has been called upon to do the same for me at times. And when those times have emerged, she has proven faithful. Witness my blog post of 3/24/2018 titled “STEPPING UP!” when I had to have foot surgery, and was laid up for several weeks. At that time, my loving wife did for me what I now gladly do for her.
Witness further my blog post of 05/25/2021 titled “A MATTER OF DAYS”, wherein I detailed an unexpected surgery I underwent as a result of, of all things, an infected hair follicle on my leg. Throughout that entire ordeal, who stood by me and saw me though the whole affair but my precious wife?!
I share that thought in light of what the Apostle Paul testifies to in his Second New Testament Letter to Timothy (chapter 4, verse 17), wherein he states: “But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength… And I was delivered from certain death.” The Apostle Paul clearly knew what it was like to have the Lord alone stand beside him when he was facing a serious crisis that could even prove deadly.
For my part, I too can testify that the Lord has stood by me through multiple difficulties. For that I am thankful! But I can also testify that my precious wife has done the same thing. And for that I am thankful as well. Given this, far be it from me not to do the same for her now!
In the Old Testament Book of Proverbs (chapter 18, verse 22), the Bible affirms whoever finds a wife finds a really good thing! I can affirm that truth!
What is more, the Bible also tells us (in the New Testament Book of Galatians, chapter 6, verse 2) that that whenever we bear one another’s burdens, we fulfill the law of Christ! Christ stood by Paul. He also stood by me. But so did my wife. For this reason, may I now be faithful to stand by her!
You see, my precious wife has fulfilled Galatians 6:2 on my behalf on numerous occasions. I can only hope that she now finds herself on the receiving end of just such blessings. And for all these reasons, I’m now glad to be her “Handy Man!”
SONG SOURCES:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handy_Man_(song);
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Taylor;
https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/jamestaylor/handyman.html.
PREVIOUS BLOG POSTS:
https://www.cleoejacksoniii.com/my-ongoing-thoughts/helping-hands;
https://www.cleoejacksoniii.com/my-ongoing-thoughts/stepping-up;
https://www.cleoejacksoniii.com/my-ongoing-thoughts/a-matter-of-days.
SCRIPTURES:
https://biblehub.com/2_timothy/4-17.htm;
https://biblehub.com/proverbs/18-22.htm;
https://biblehub.com/galatians/6-2.htm.
According to the song’s lyrics, the singer is a handyman who fixes broken hearts 24 hours a day, and who further states that “If your broken heart should need repair, then I am the man to see!” Clearly, the singer is asserting that he is the man to see whenever any young lady has been wounded by love.
The year Taylor released his version of the song (1977) was the very year I met the young lady who was destined to become my precious wife. Many a time we listened to that song together. And yet, little did I know at the time how prophetic the verses of that song would one day prove true. Now I do.
As I referenced in an earlier blog last month (HELPING HANDS - April 11, 2023), my wife recently had to undergo Carpel Tunnel Syndrome surgery. In short, her hand was wounded. At the time, both she and I assumed the procedure and its after effects would last just a couple of weeks or so.
Now, five weeks later, we realize how wrong we were. While we are grateful that the surgery was successful, and that her hand is certainly getting better, we realize that the time frame for healing we had originally envisioned was clearly shortsighted.
As it stands, she will not be released by her physician to resume normal activities for another three weeks. That continues to mean no lifting of any object over one or two pounds. It also means no activity that involves vibration of the hand, which might have a negative impact on the healing of the nerve(s) in her wrist.
In other words, that means she cannot wash dishes. Nor can she wash clothes. Above all, it means that she cannot cut grass!
Please understand that the latter activity is something that she dearly LOVES to do! She loves to mow; so she cuts the yard; and I trim, edge, weed-eat, and blow the clippings off the driveway.
My point here is that if you know my wife, then you know she is not one to lie around and make excuse for inactivity! Hence, you will understand how and why she is going crazy with frustration, not only as she has felt tied down for the last five weeks, but even worse, as she will invariably be tied down for another three weeks to come.
For my part, I have found that this whole ordeal has become, for me at least, a time either to put up or to shut up! Sure, I could be her “Handy Man” and do all I could to fix her broken world. No, I could not fix her broken hand. Only the Doctor could do that. But I could wash dishes, clothes, and the like. I could even cut the grass she so obviously likes to cut. After all, what is a mere two to three weeks?
But two to three weeks soon became five weeks. And then we learned that this was projected to stretch out to eight weeks. Ouch!
Now, let me be clear. I am not looking for an “Atta boy!” here. When we went to the altar, we pledged that we would stick together in sickness and in health. But, like all couples, we have a de facto division of labor. And during this time, my share of that labor has slightly increased.
I trust you get the point. It has been said that marriage is not a 50/50 proposition. Rather, it is more like 100/100. If you love someone, you give 100%, at all times and in all circumstances! Given this, there is no doubt that what I have been called upon to do for my wife is a labor of love.
What is more, she has been called upon to do the same for me at times. And when those times have emerged, she has proven faithful. Witness my blog post of 3/24/2018 titled “STEPPING UP!” when I had to have foot surgery, and was laid up for several weeks. At that time, my loving wife did for me what I now gladly do for her.
Witness further my blog post of 05/25/2021 titled “A MATTER OF DAYS”, wherein I detailed an unexpected surgery I underwent as a result of, of all things, an infected hair follicle on my leg. Throughout that entire ordeal, who stood by me and saw me though the whole affair but my precious wife?!
I share that thought in light of what the Apostle Paul testifies to in his Second New Testament Letter to Timothy (chapter 4, verse 17), wherein he states: “But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength… And I was delivered from certain death.” The Apostle Paul clearly knew what it was like to have the Lord alone stand beside him when he was facing a serious crisis that could even prove deadly.
For my part, I too can testify that the Lord has stood by me through multiple difficulties. For that I am thankful! But I can also testify that my precious wife has done the same thing. And for that I am thankful as well. Given this, far be it from me not to do the same for her now!
In the Old Testament Book of Proverbs (chapter 18, verse 22), the Bible affirms whoever finds a wife finds a really good thing! I can affirm that truth!
What is more, the Bible also tells us (in the New Testament Book of Galatians, chapter 6, verse 2) that that whenever we bear one another’s burdens, we fulfill the law of Christ! Christ stood by Paul. He also stood by me. But so did my wife. For this reason, may I now be faithful to stand by her!
You see, my precious wife has fulfilled Galatians 6:2 on my behalf on numerous occasions. I can only hope that she now finds herself on the receiving end of just such blessings. And for all these reasons, I’m now glad to be her “Handy Man!”
SONG SOURCES:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handy_Man_(song);
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Taylor;
https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/jamestaylor/handyman.html.
PREVIOUS BLOG POSTS:
https://www.cleoejacksoniii.com/my-ongoing-thoughts/helping-hands;
https://www.cleoejacksoniii.com/my-ongoing-thoughts/stepping-up;
https://www.cleoejacksoniii.com/my-ongoing-thoughts/a-matter-of-days.
SCRIPTURES:
https://biblehub.com/2_timothy/4-17.htm;
https://biblehub.com/proverbs/18-22.htm;
https://biblehub.com/galatians/6-2.htm.