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 marbles
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 sinewy.
And the angel shook her head sadly and said,
"Do you know what you're 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 moulded 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 kid falling between his legs?"
And God smiled and said,
"A mother needs a lap.
A father needs strong shoulders
to pull a sled,
balance a boy on a bicycle,
and 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 every 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 crushing 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 afterthought,
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 shutteth up.
"Children's children
are the crown of old men,
and the glory of children
is their FATHER."
(Proverbs 17:7).
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