A little bit of highchair theology

Ma and God by Shel Silverstein


God gave us fingers -- Ma says, "Use your fork."
God gave us voices -- Ma says, "Don't scream."
Ma says eat broccoli, ceral and carrots.
But God gave us tasteys for maple ice cream.

God gave us fingers -- Ma says, "Use your hanky."
God gave us puddles -- Ma says, "Don't splash."
Ma says, "Be quiet, your father is sleeping."
But God gave us garbage can covers to crash.

God gave us fingers -- Ma says, "put your gloves on."
God gave us raindrops -- Ma says, "Don't get wet."
Ma says be careful, and don't get too near to
Those strange lovely dogs that God gave us to pet.

God gave us fingers -- Ma says, "Go wash 'em."
But God gave us coal bins and nice dirty bodies.
And I ain't too smart, but there's one thing for certain --
Either Ma's wrong or else God is."

This was followed by this comment by daddy -
"God gives you moms to tell you how to use the things God gave you."

But still...to a child...a paradox.