The excitement had grown in the city so fair.
T’was the largest event from here to there.
The market began on a lovely spring day.
Many merchants had come from far far away.
A group of young teens had gathered around.
They wandered the streets seeing what could be found.
As the group became larger more boisterous they became.
The leader of the group was caught up in the fame.
It was then that they came to a booth nearly bare.
Just a small block of wood sat on the table top there.
The leader of the group held the wood way up high.
“A small scrap of wood not worth a thing” he did cry.
The boys all laughed and joked at the sight.
What to do with the wood now became their plight.
Just then a large bird came flying near by,
See if you can hit it and knock it right out of the sky.
The young man reared back to let the little block go,
When all of a sudden a hand shot from below.
And old man appeared from the dark of the tent.
His grip was quite strong but he had a slight bent.
He looked at the teen and stared deep in his eye.
“Young man this has something very special inside.”
He stepped from the tent took the wood from his hand,
Sat down on a stool and waved sit to the band.
Then he took out a knife and held up the wood.
The boys got all scared and sat where they stood.
“If you learn the secret then you will all know
That with work and time something special will show.
Each of you are all special of that I know too,
If you sit for a while you’ll learn a thing or two.”
Then he sharpened his knife and began carving the wood.
But finally a young man couldn’t stand it and stood.
“Would you please share the secret we’d all like to know?”
All the heads began nodding and their eyes showed the glow.
The old man took a moment and looked at the crowd,
A tear crossed his cheek and his head dropped and bowed.
Then he raised himself up looked each one in the face,
as he lifted his finger on his heart he did place.
“See the real secret is what’s inside each of you.
God has given it to all and not just a few.
See he’s the master carver if you let him in your life,
and with love sent his Son to ease all worldly strife.
Jesus Christ taught everyone has their own special gift.
His plain words and his actions gave us all a big lift.
It’s here in your soul if you just learn to let it out.
If you do a few things you’ll see what it’s all about.
He said do unto others as you would have them to do to you.
Give your life up in service do a good turn or two.
When you help all the others then Christ will proclaim
That your service to others is serving God just the same.
So it is here deep inside I was taught long ago.
Whether you choose to let it out is up to you to show.”
Then he held up the wood and a face did appear.
Of Christ the Savior from that block it was clear.
A gasp was heard from the group as they looked
At that small scrap of wood that their leader took.
The young men had been taught by a kind loving man.
They learned that to serve was a much better plan.
Their hearts had been touched in a pure simple way.
And they resolved to do good from that very day.
Then the leader of the group turned as the crowd left to go.
“Sir, your name if I could I would really like to know.”
“I’m just an old carpenter from far far away,
But, I’m Joseph of Nazareth thanks for coming today.”
By Matthew Swan
I wrote this after doing the bolo challenge hoping it would let the youth know that if you let God inside of you the best will come out. But we have to turn our lives over to the Master. I enjoyed when I got to the end and several of the youth caught the fact that I was talking about Joseph the husband of Mary, the mother of Christ. One young man came up and wanted to know where in the Bible this story was located.