Reworked At the Front Poem

Renee

I think this title is much richer.

What about cutting stanza three?  What about switching stanzas two and four?  

This may cause more weeds to show but I like how the "hand" starts to focus more.

At the Front

Arriving late on Easter Sunday,
the only empty seats are at the front left.

Thank God we arrived after greeting time.
I’m out of “everything’s fine” smiles.

My husband takes one bandaged hand
and leads me down the narrow side aisle
along the wall of sparkling stained glass.

During the sermon, he covers my hand with his,
as gently as he would over a candle-lit dinner.
Like when he held my hand for the first time,
I don’t dare let go.

After the altar call, I turn around.
My grandma had been sitting behind us all along.
My dad follows my mom down from the choir loft.
My mom wraps me up in a warm embrace,
“You came.”

Hi, Mr. Sukany! I like that much better. Thank you! I felt like something was added weight, but I couldn't figure it out what needed changed/chopped. Thanks!

Big yes to Todd's suggestions on stanzas.

Just weeding a little.   

During the sermon, he covers my hand with his,
as gently as he would over a candle-lit dinner.  ( what about dropping first "as".  Just saying "gentle as";  do you need "he would"?
Like when he held my hand for the first time,
I don’t dare let go.

Little stuff again:
After the altar call, I turn around.
My grandma, behind us all along. (dropped some words here.)
My dad follows my mom down from the choir loft.
My mom wraps me up in a warm embrace,
“You came.”

Renee, the anxiety of personna still comes through.  Nice job.  Hard stuff.  Good work.

When I'm dealing with personal hard stuff, poetry is my life raft.  It can be yours too.

I love those suggestions too! Thank you!