When the Lord was creating fathers,
He started with a tall frame.

A female  angel nearby said,
"What kind of father is that?
If you are going to make children so close to the ground,
why have you put father up so high?
He won't be able to shoot marbles without kneeling,
or kiss and tuck a child in bed without 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 father's hand,
They were very large and strong.

The angel shook her  head sadly and said,
"Do you know what you are doing?
Large hands are clumsy.
They cannot 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 are large
enough to hold everything a small son empties from
his pockets at the end of the day......... yet small enough
to cup a daughters face in his hands."

 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 chuckled
Do you realize you just made a father without a lap?
  How is he going to pull a child close and hold 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.

The angel could not contain herself no 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 small birthday party without
crushing at least three of the guests?".

Again God smiled and said, "They will work, you'll see,
They will 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 after thought,
he added.................Tears

Then he turned to the angel and said,
"now there you have it, the complete DAD!
now are you satisfied he can love as much as a mother."

The angel said nothing more.

Written by Erma Bombeck