If You Give A Boy A Stick
One of the blessings of Hawaii for me was getting re-acquainted with my “inner muse.” While writing is certainly a part of my “normal life,” the constant stream of inspiration that I enjoyed on our island retreat is rare in the midst of dirty diapers, dirty dishes and dirty clothes. I savored the gift of silence and solitude while my husband attended classes each morning, and as I did, I discovered that God’s sweet whisper often came in rhyme and thoughtful prose. I rediscovered the shadowy line between prayer and poetry, between my faith and God’s stunning story.
Here’s one of my prayers for Joshua that evolved into a poem as I took a long walk beneath the tropical blue sky one morning. While it was originally penned for my fourth-born, it is certainly the cry of my heart for all five of my children. May they all have TRUTH STUCK TO THEIR FEET by the time their walk on this earth is through!
If You Give A Boy A Stick
If you give a boy a stick,
He’ll move a mound of dirt,
And chances are
before he’s done,
He’ll have mud splats
on his shirt.
If you give a boy a stick,
He’ll plow roads
and winding trails,
And chances are
before he’s done,
He’ll have sludge
beneath his nails
If you give a boy a stick,He’ll trench tunnels
where he lingers
And chances are
before he’s done,
He’ll have muck
stuck to his fingers.
If you give a boy a stick,
He’ll excavate some rocks
And chances are before he’s done,
He’ll have gravel in his socks.
But if you give a boy a Bible,
He’ll find a Rock that fills the holes,
And chances are before he’s done,
He’ll have LIFE stamped on his soul.
If you give a boy a Bible,
He’ll level mountains of deceit
And chances are
before he’s done,
He’ll have Truth
stuck to his feet.
If you give a boy a Bible,
He’ll find treasure of another kind
And chances are before he’s done
He’ll have wisdom
on his mind.
on his mind.
If you give a boy a Bible,
He’ll unearth eternal plans,
And chances are
before he’s done,
He’ll have grace stains
on his hands.
on his hands.
If you give a boy a Bible,
He’ll dig ‘til his life’s end,
He’ll dig ‘til his life’s end,
And chances are
before he’s done,
He’ll find a Savior
and a Friend.
and a Friend.
So embrace the dirt,
The muck, the sand.
Give your boy a branch
From God’s own hand.
And with a mercy stick
From Calvary’s tree,
Let him dig with joy
For eternity.
–Written by Alicia for Joshua David,
October 20, 2010
So beautiful and a perfect reminder as Nathan and I invest in our boys’ present, praying that God will bless their future abundantly!
There is so much truth in your poem, Alicia! What a wonderful prayer for your sons! Thank you for sharing it with us!