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为了能让母亲最大限度地关爱、理解、照顾孩子，上帝创造的母亲柔软而坚强；那么他创造的父亲又是什么样的呢?他会像母亲一样体贴入微并毫无怨言地满足孩子的所有心愿吗？请看——
When the good Lord was creating Fathers, he started with a tall frame. A female angel nearby said, “What kind of a Father is that? If you’re going to make children so close to the ground, why have you put the Father up so high? He won’t be able to shoot marbles1 without kneeling, tuck2 a child in bed without bending, or even kiss a child without stooping3.” God smiled and said, “Yes, but if I make him child size, who would children have to look up to?”
And when God made a Father’s hands, they were large. The angel shook her head and said, “Large hands can’t manage diaper4 pins, small buttons, rubber bands on pony tails, or even remove splinters5 caused from baseball bats.” Again God smiled and said, “I know, but they’re large enough to hold everything a small boy empties from his pockets, yet small enough to cup a child’s face in them.”
Then God molded6 long slim legs and broad shoulders. “Do you realize you just made a Father without a lap7?” The angel chuckled. God said, “A Mother needs a lap. A Father needs strong shoulders to pull a sled, to balance a boy on a bicycle, or to hold a sleepy head on the way home from the circus.”
When God was in the middle of creating the biggest feet any one had ever seen, the angel could not contain herself any longer. “That’s not fair. Do you honestly think those feet are going to get out of bed early in the morning when the baby cries, or walk through a birthday party without crushing one or two of the guests?”
God again smiled and said, “They will work. You will see. They will support a small child who wants to ride to Banbury Cross or scare mice away from a 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 see everything, but remain calm and tolerant.
Finally, almost as an after thought, he added tears. Then he turned to the angel and said, “Now are you satisfied he can love as much as a Mother can?”
The angel said nothing more.
当上帝创造父亲的时候，他先创造了一副魁梧的体格。他旁边有一位女天使说：“这是什么样的父亲？如果您要把孩子们都做得那么小，为什么要把父亲设计得这么高呢？他只有屈膝才能和孩子一起玩弹子，只有弯腰才能给孩子掖被子，想要亲亲孩子，他又不得不深深地蹲下。”上帝微笑着回答：“是的，但是如果我把父亲和孩子做得一样高的话，孩子能仰视谁呢？”
接着，上帝为父亲创造了一双大手。天使摇摇头说：“这么大的手怎么能给孩子换尿布、钉纽扣、梳辫子甚至打扫棒球棍打碎的东西呢？”上帝微笑着说：“我知道，但是这双手要大到能拿得了孩子从口袋里掏出的所有东西，又要小到能将孩子的脸蛋儿捧在手中。”
然后，上帝又给父亲创造了两条长腿和宽阔的肩膀。天使咯咯地笑着说：“您意识到了吗？您创造的这个父亲没有膝盖。”上帝说：“母亲需要膝盖。父亲需要的是强壮的臂膀来给孩子推雪橇，帮助孩子在自行车上保持平衡，在看完马戏表演回家的路上揽住熟睡的孩子。”
当上帝创造那双从没有人见过的大脚的时候，天使再也忍不住了。“这不公平。如果一大早孩子哭了，难道您不认为这双大脚会把孩子从床上踢下去吗？不会在生日晚会时踩到一两位客人吗？”
上帝微笑着说：“你会看到它们的作用。它们会支撑住小孩子骑在父亲的颈上，会在夏天时吓跑木屋里的老鼠，会让孩子对一双大鞋的挑战充满想象。”上帝彻夜不眠地创造，他赋予父亲很少的话语，但给予他坚定威严的嗓音；双眼能够看到一切但却能保持平静和宽容。
最后，上帝沉思之后又为他加上了眼泪。然后他转向天使说：“你满意了吗？现在他可以和母亲一样爱孩子了。”
天使再也说不出什么了。
李猛 摘自Parents & Children
When the good Lord was creating Fathers, he started with a tall frame. A female angel nearby said, “What kind of a Father is that? If you’re going to make children so close to the ground, why have you put the Father up so high? He won’t be able to shoot marbles1 without kneeling, tuck2 a child in bed without bending, or even kiss a child without stooping3.” God smiled and said, “Yes, but if I make him child size, who would children have to look up to?”
And when God made a Father’s hands, they were large. The angel shook her head and said, “Large hands can’t manage diaper4 pins, small buttons, rubber bands on pony tails, or even remove splinters5 caused from baseball bats.” Again God smiled and said, “I know, but they’re large enough to hold everything a small boy empties from his pockets, yet small enough to cup a child’s face in them.”
Then God molded6 long slim legs and broad shoulders. “Do you realize you just made a Father without a lap7?” The angel chuckled. God said, “A Mother needs a lap. A Father needs strong shoulders to pull a sled, to balance a boy on a bicycle, or to hold a sleepy head on the way home from the circus.”
When God was in the middle of creating the biggest feet any one had ever seen, the angel could not contain herself any longer. “That’s not fair. Do you honestly think those feet are going to get out of bed early in the morning when the baby cries, or walk through a birthday party without crushing one or two of the guests?”
God again smiled and said, “They will work. You will see. They will support a small child who wants to ride to Banbury Cross or scare mice away from a 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 see everything, but remain calm and tolerant.
Finally, almost as an after thought, he added tears. Then he turned to the angel and said, “Now are you satisfied he can love as much as a Mother can?”
The angel said nothing more.
当上帝创造父亲的时候，他先创造了一副魁梧的体格。他旁边有一位女天使说：“这是什么样的父亲？如果您要把孩子们都做得那么小，为什么要把父亲设计得这么高呢？他只有屈膝才能和孩子一起玩弹子，只有弯腰才能给孩子掖被子，想要亲亲孩子，他又不得不深深地蹲下。”上帝微笑着回答：“是的，但是如果我把父亲和孩子做得一样高的话，孩子能仰视谁呢？”
接着，上帝为父亲创造了一双大手。天使摇摇头说：“这么大的手怎么能给孩子换尿布、钉纽扣、梳辫子甚至打扫棒球棍打碎的东西呢？”上帝微笑着说：“我知道，但是这双手要大到能拿得了孩子从口袋里掏出的所有东西，又要小到能将孩子的脸蛋儿捧在手中。”
然后，上帝又给父亲创造了两条长腿和宽阔的肩膀。天使咯咯地笑着说：“您意识到了吗？您创造的这个父亲没有膝盖。”上帝说：“母亲需要膝盖。父亲需要的是强壮的臂膀来给孩子推雪橇，帮助孩子在自行车上保持平衡，在看完马戏表演回家的路上揽住熟睡的孩子。”
当上帝创造那双从没有人见过的大脚的时候，天使再也忍不住了。“这不公平。如果一大早孩子哭了，难道您不认为这双大脚会把孩子从床上踢下去吗？不会在生日晚会时踩到一两位客人吗？”
上帝微笑着说：“你会看到它们的作用。它们会支撑住小孩子骑在父亲的颈上，会在夏天时吓跑木屋里的老鼠，会让孩子对一双大鞋的挑战充满想象。”上帝彻夜不眠地创造，他赋予父亲很少的话语，但给予他坚定威严的嗓音；双眼能够看到一切但却能保持平静和宽容。
最后，上帝沉思之后又为他加上了眼泪。然后他转向天使说：“你满意了吗？现在他可以和母亲一样爱孩子了。”
天使再也说不出什么了。
李猛 摘自Parents & Children