Wisdom in the scars

Title: Wisdom in the Scars

I’m looking at these hands tonight

Under the kitchen light.

They’ve seen the heavy metal,

They’ve seen the long dark night,

Burn marks on the knuckles,

Stains that never fade quite right.

They’re the map of every dollar earned,

Every promise made,

I used to think the steel was what

Held me to the floor,

But I’m finding out there’s something here

That means a whole lot more.

Every scar’s a lesson,

Every cut, a line of ink,

Writing out the story

Of the man I’m meant to be.

I thought I was defined by the fire and the trade,

But I’m tougher than the pieces that I ever made.

Yeah, the road was jagged and the heat was hard to take,

But I’m stronger for the bending,

And I’m wiser for the break.

Every mark I carry proves I made it through so far,

There’s wisdom in the scars.

I remember being younger,

Thinking I was bulletproof,

Trying to outrun the shadows,

Hoping to outgrow the truth.

I put my back into it,

Gave the shop the best of me,

Learned to hold it all inside

So no one else could see.

Now the shift is over,

And the clock is off the wall,

But I see a different future

Standing proud and standing tall.

’Cause when I look at Jackie,

She sees more than dust and grime,

And when the grandbabies run to me,

They don’t see the overtime.

I thought I was defined by the fire and the trade,

But I’m tougher than the pieces that I ever made.

Yeah, the road was jagged and the heat was hard to take,

But I’m stronger for the bending,

And I’m wiser for the break.

Every mark I carry proves I made it through so far,

There’s wisdom in the scars.

They see a pair of steady hands

That know how to hold them tight,

That’s the only legacy

I’m worried about tonight.

It ain’t about the job,

It ain’t about the pay,

It’s about who’s waiting on me

At the end of every day.

I’m cutting all the anchors

That kept me in the past,

And I’ll still be standing

When this hard season has passed.

I thought I was defined by the fire and the trade,

But I’m tougher than the pieces that I ever made.

Yeah, the road was jagged and the heat was hard to take,

But I’m stronger for the bending,

And I’m wiser for the break.

I’ve got grace to keep on going,

I’ve got love to keep me strong,

There’s wisdom in the scars,

And I’m still moving on.

Look at these hands, see where they’ve been,

Through the furnace, through the wind.

I ain’t finished, but I’ve come this far—

There’s wisdom in the scars.