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 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."
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.
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 ponytails, 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 at the end of a day, yet small enough to cup
a child's face."
Then
God molded long, slim legs and broad shoulders.
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?"
God
smiled and said, "A Mother needs a lap. A Father
needs strong shoulders to pull a sled, balance a child 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 not contain herself any 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?"
Again
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 and 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 said nothing more.
