If You Give A Boy A Stick…
Of all the poems I’ve written for my children over the years, this is one of my favorites. Joshua loved to play with sticks when he was little, and one day when we were out playing in the trees, I watched him leaping around excitedly with a great big stick in his hand. And in that moment, I prayed the prayer that sparked this poem: “May Josh thrill to your Word like that, God!” When I found these scribbles written on the inside cover of one of my old Bible study books today, it seemed like the perfect follow-up to this post.
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.
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.
If you give a boy a Bible,
He’ll dig ’til his life’s end.
And chances are before he’s done,
He’ll find a Savior and a Friend.
So embrace the dirt, the muck, the sand,
But give your boy a branch from God’s own hand.
Then, with the mercy stick from Calvary’s tree,
Let him dig with joy for eternity.
written by Alicia Bruxvoort, October 20, 2010
“How well God must like you…you thrill to God’s Word, you chew on Scripture day and night.
You’re a tree replanted in Eden, bearing fresh fruit every month, Never dropping a leaf, always in blossom.”
-Psalm 1:1-3, The Message
Happy to be joining Laura for a playdate with God today. She loves Jesus, mothers boys, and knows how to play… in the mud or in the sunshine! Oh, and she just wrote an AMAZING book that will invigorate your faith and add fun to your walk with God again. You can get a copy for yourself here.
I love this. Sometimes I wonder what I missed out on by not having boys, but then my little one loves a good mud pie herself. Thankfully the Bible suits both genders. 🙂 Big hugs from over yonder!
Yeah, my girls love a stick as much as my boys:) And the Word is perfect for them all!
So beautiful – God and His creation all wrapped up in a sweet and touching truth.
Love this!! I have 3 boys of my own and they LOVE sticks! So grateful they are beginning to appreciate the Bibles we put in their hands as well. Thank you for this! Loved your previous post too about praying for them to hunger for the Word, so true and well said!! Blessings to you!
What an awesome poem! I have a grandson who is 10 and he always has a stick in his hand. I wish it was a bible.
And that grandson of yours is lucky to have a praying Grandma! I’m praying with you that he will find the “mercy stick” of the cross and carry Jesus with Him always:)
MARVELOUS! So sweet-and so true.