Truth that Sticks
Blog | Family | Growing Pains | Poetry
We finished reading through his Jesus Bible Storybook for the fourth time in today’s pre-dawn darkness.
When we reached the last page, he clapped. Then as we closed the cover of his Bible, Josh snuggled his warm head of tousled hair against my chest and sighed contentedly.
“I love the Wurd.”
At summer’s start, I had challenged my kids to join me in a commitment to “seek first” each day. After sharing Christ’s words from Matthew 6:33, I had dared my Christ-seekers to see if beginning their day in God’s Word actually made a difference. Though all of the kids had accepted the challenge with good intentions in June, Joshua has never stopped. I’m praying he never will.
In celebration of my four-year-old’s fourth time through his Bible, I dug out one of my favorite poems from the archives. My little boy may soon outgrow that plastic shovel, but I’m praying that he’ll NEVER outgrow his love for God’s word.
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 mountainsof 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.
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
This little “Jesus Storybook” is my favorite children’s Bible EVER. I think God speaks to me through those precious pages more than through my own “grown up Bible Studies”. Maybe that’s why Jesus reminded us to “become like a child…” 🙂
Thanks for stopping by.. all of you!
Tears!
LOVE LOVE LOVE that poem!!!!
Your amazing!!!!
What a sweet poem – love the photos, too!
Maylie and I are reading this too. Love it!