Created Fathers
Fathers... He started with a tall frame.
An angel nearby said, "what kind of a father
is that? If you're going to make children so
close to the ground, why have You put the
Fathers up so high? He won't be able to
shoot a marble without kneeling, play pretend
drinking tea, tuck a child in bed without
bending, or even kiss a child without
a lot of stooping."
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.
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."
Again God smiled and said, "I know, but
they're large enough to hold everything a
small boy empties from his pockets, all his
daughter's paper dolls, jump rope, yet small
enough to cup a child's face in his hands."
Then God molded long slim legs and
broad shoulders.
The angel nearby had a heart attack.
"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?"
God smiled and said, "A Mother needs a
lap. A Father needs strong shoulders to
pull a wagon, to balance a child on a
bicycle, or to hold a sleepy head on the way
home from the circus."
When God was in the middle of creating
two of the largest feet anyone had ever seen,
the angel giggled and could not contain
herself any longer. "That's not fair. Do You
honestly think those large boats are going to
get out of bed early in the morning when
the baby cries? Or walk through a birthday
party without crushing one or two of the guests?"
Again God smiled and said, "It will work you'll
see. They will support a small child who wants
to ride a horse to Banbury Cross, or scare mice
away from a summer cabin, or walk in shoes
that will be a challenge to fill."
God worked throughout the night, giving the
Father few words, but a firm authorative voice;
eyes that could see everything, yet remain
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 can?"
The angel said nothing more.
~ Erma Bombeck ~