The Maker

The man placed His calloused hands on the old wooden table and looked down on the mound of clay that lay before Him. 

"We have a lot of work to do." He said with a bright smile.

And then He began to form the clay.

For long hours He molded and shaped His creation, for it had to be perfect.

Days passed before the man finally rested on His stool, and gazed down at His work.

It was a small figure, a little clay boy.

"Now," Said the man, His voice filld with pride. "I must give you eyes, for that you may see the world as I see it."

The man left His small home and walked to the nearby stream.

He stooped and studied the riverbed carefully before taking two stones from the flowing water, and made His way home.

There He sanded the stones, making them round and polished, for His creation must see clearly.

Then, when they were ready, He gave the boy eyes.

     To look upon the dark world and see the beautiful light.

     To see joy in the sorrow.

     To see hope where there is none.

Now that  the boy had eyes, the man tapped His chin thoughtfully.

"He can now see, what shall I give next?" He wondered. "Ah! Yes, of course." Spoke the man with a grin. "I will give a mouth, so that you may always speak with love."

With that, the man gently formed the boy's lips.

     So that he can speak the truth.

     To sing with joy.

     To tell others stories of hope.

Next the man shaped his ears.

     To hear the good news of today, and what is to come tomorrow.

     To hear and listen to those who need to be heard.

The man grew tired from His work, but He would not rest till His job was done.

He gave the boy a nose to smell.   

     To smell warm bread fresh from the oven.

     To smell rain before the storm.

      To smell the fragrance of the lilies by the stream.

He shaped his feet and gave them toes, for He knew His boy would walk far and wide to tell His stories.

He gave him long, gentle fingers to hold the small, place on the weak, and to lift up the fallen.

Then He placed His face next to the boy's small ear and whispered all He knew, He shared His knowledge with the boy, and told him the hopes He had for him.

Next came the trickiest part of all.

The man wiped the sweat from His brow and placed His big hand on His creation's chest, and spoke in a low, confident voice.

"I give you a heart filled with love, with compassion, to be honest, understanding of those who ridicule you and not condemn them for what they have done."

"Follow your heart My son, it's a good one." Said the man, His filled with warmth as the boy took his first breath.

"Your path will be a hard one, but your heart will not lead you astray."

He took the boy's hand in His and whispered as he slept.

"And never forget, I will be with you always."