So hand-in-hand, they stumbled happily along
The winding and well-trodden path
The child gathered dirt and rocks for his Daddy
As Mommy cooed, “Ooh, stinky you, will really need a bath!”
​
The little boy stopped to rescue a bug
That scampered under a log
Then into his pocket he shoved the thing
And later, a wee tree frog!
​
Mama dreaded having to wash this particular pair of pants
Yet she knew he needed to learn some things for himself
So for today, “seeing but not touching” was out of the question
On another day, they would examine the contents of a shelf...
​
One inside the little grocery store
Where his Daddy went to work
For there, he must not handle the goods
Lest he should ire the clerk!
​
Most every day she offered
 A new lesson to her child
For she wanted him raised a Godly man
Not crude, or unruly, and wild.
​
On the weekends the whole family shared
In the places which they would go
Though sometimes his mama wisely realized
She had to allow, only her two “men” to go.
​
On LORD’s Day they all dressed-up fine
Then walked to the church in the glen
Through the mighty rows of towering oaks
And the ashy, “trembling” aspens.
​
His daddy would always comment
“My, but they are quaking this morn!"
Then he would reference the fear of the LORD
And the importance of being re-born.
​
The little boy did not know why
But somehow he understood
So he was always in awe, just knowing that GOD
Was there - and walking with them - in the woods!
​
The clonal aspens stood like a bastion
Of soldiers, among royal pines with a heady scent
Ofttimes the squirrels scampered between the trees -
As the huge dropped acorns were their intent!
​
When his daddy got home from work at night
He was always quite tired and spent
Yet he never ceased to inquire of him
As to where he, and his mother, went.
​
The boy loved describing his outings
As his daddy nodded and smiled
Because the love in his eyes was gleaming
And it filled the heart of his child!
​
Then right before bed his daddy gathered him close
And called out aloud for his mother
To come join them in hearing those certain Bible stories
That can only be told by a father!
​
Well folks, those precious years escaped
Like aroma from a steaming cup
And quite suddenly it happened -
That the lad was all grown-up!
​
When high school was over
And college was done
He met a few girls
And then, married one..
​
Who was very much like his mother
And who loved the forest, too -
Because more than anything else he wanted
For his children to be able to do..
​
The same kind of explorations he had known
Throughout all those early years
A different adventure nearly every day!
And his eyes filled again with tears
​
For the lad was now a preacher man
Who had just laid his father to rest.
And he still thanked the good LORD every day
For having given him the Best.
​
"I promise to take good care of Mom," he vowed
To his dad, standing over his grave
"For she is the very one who taught me early on
That I must always be brave.."
​
"But right now I'm finding that hard to do, Sir
Because Dad, your courage and strength were Divine
So while you're looking down from Heaven on us
Please say a prayer for me..  to find mine."
​
“But yes, dear LORD, whatever it takes
I am committing to You this day:
To whatever I must do
To become a Father like You

And therefore, LORD GOD, shall I,
teach my
Children