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When the Good LORD was
creating Fathers, he started
with a tall frame. 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 the Father 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 stooping?"
GOD smiled and said, "Yes, but if I make him
child size, who would children have to look up to?"
When GOD made the Father's hands, they were large.
The angel shook her head and said, "Large hands
can't manage diaper pins, small buttons,
rubber bands on pony tails, or even remove splinters
caused from baseball bats."
Again GOD smiled and said,
"I know, but they're large enough to hold everything a small boy empties from his pockets,
yet small enough to cup a child's face in them."
Then GOD molded long slim legs and broad shoulders,
"Do you realize you just made a Father without a lap?"
The angel chuckled.
GOD said, "A Mother needs a lap.
A Father needs
strong shoulders
to pull a sled,
to balance a boy on a bicycle, or to hold a sleepy head
on the way home from the circus."
When GOD was in the middle of creating
the biggest feetanyone had ever seen,
the angel could not contain herself any longer.
"That's not fair.
Do you honestly think those feet
are going to get out of bedearly in the morning
when the baby cries, or walk through a birthday party
without crushing one or two of the guest?"
GOD again smiled and said,
"They will work. You will
see.
They will support a small child
who wants to ride to Branbury Cross
or scare mice away from a 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 see everything,
but remain calm and tolerant.
Finally, almost as an after thought,
He added tears.
The he turned to the angel and said,
"Now are you satisfied he can love as much as a Mother can?"
The angel said nothing more.
Erma Bombeck
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