When the good Lord was creating Fathers he started
with a tall frame, and a female angel nearby
said, "What kind of Father is that? If you're going
to make children so close to the ground, why have
you put Fathers up so high? He won't be able to
shoot a marble without kneeling, tuck a child in
bed without bending, or even kiss a child without
a lot of stooping."
And God smiled and said, "Yes, but if I make him
child-size, who would children have to look up to?"
And when God made a Father's hands, they were large
And the angel shook her head sadly and said, "Do
you know what you are doing? Large hands are
clumsy. They can't manage diaper pins, small
buttons, rubber bands on pony tails or even
remove splinters caused by baseball bats."
And God smiled and said, "I know, but they're
large enough to hold everything a small boy
empties from his pockets at the end of a day..
yet small enough to cup a child's face in his
hands."
And then God molded long, slim legs and broad
shoulders.
And the angel nearly had a heart attack. "Boy this
is the end of the week, all right," she clucked.
"Do you realize you just made a Father without a
lap? How is he going to pull a child close to him
without the child falling between his legs.
And God smiled and said, "A Mother needs a lap. A
her needs strong shoulders to pull a sled,
balance a boy on a bicycle, or hold a sleepy
head on the way home from the circus."
God was in the middle of creating two of the
largest feet anyone had ever seen when the angel
could contain herself no longer. "That's not fair.
Do you honestly think those large boats are going
to dig out of bed early in the morning when the
baby cries? Or walk through a small birthday
party without crunching at least three of the
guests?"
And God smiled and said, "They'll work. You'll
see. They'll support a small child who wants to
ride a horse to Banbury Cross, or scare off mice
at the summer cabin, or display shoes that will
be a challenge to fill."
God worked throughout the night, giving the Father
few words, but a firm, authoritative voice; eyes
that saw everything, but remained calm and
tolerant.
Finally, almost as an after-thought, he added ~
tears. Then he turned to the angel and said, "Now
are you satisfied that he can love as much as a
mother?
The angel shuteth up..
~ Erma Bombeck ~
Ephesians 6:2 Honour thy father and mother;
(which is the first commandment with promise;)
