Too Little To Cross

"When you pass through the waters I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you." Isaiah 43:2

Too Little To Cross

Grandfatherin' comes with a duty
That's not only to the grandson
Sometimes you may need to step up
Proddin' his father how it's done

You gotta act real careful-like
Bein' respectful, fair and nice
Grown men can easy shy a mite
Bein’ told unasked-for advice

Such was the tight predicament
I found myself in just last week
When out movin’ some mother cows
And needin' to cross a wide creek

There were five of us a'horseback
Each was on his own trusted ride
My son, Jake, leads out a'crossin'
When little Grandson shirks bug-eyed

Grandson's mare was only hock-deep
But he had hauled her to a whoa
He feared that fast flowin' water
Ain't no way he was gonna go

Jake turned and shouted to the lad
"C'mon Trace, don't be a baby!"
Grandson turned that mare to the shore
Bein' scared, he don't mean maybe

Jake, frustrated and embarrassed
Wanted Trace to just, quick, man-up
I splashed over alongside him
Sayin', "Easy Son, he's just a pup"

"There'll be time 'nuff to be a man
He's little only a short while
I recall things that once scared you
Lookin' in his eye with a smile

"How many times have I seen you
Pack a calf across a river
When he was too little to cross
Then to the mama-cow deliver?"

"Consider a thought from ol’ dad
How 'bout goin back to help Trace
Tell him you once were scared too
It might be a bonding embrace "

"Shoot Dad, I get so impatient
Then I respond by gettin' mad
Thanks for right-callin' me on it
Because, of course, you're right Dad"

I watched my son one arm huggin'
Little Trace, their mounts side-by-side
Lovin' words passin' 'tween 'em
Grandpa gatherin' in some pride

The lad then kept his eyes on dad,
They crossed that torrent creek as one
Never did he see the water
They forged ahead gettin' 'er done

Later Jake shared what he had said,
"Grandpa taught me to be brave, Son,
Just watch your Father and your goal
To this day, that's how I get ‘er done

by Rik Goodell
© 2025 All rights reserved

This Jason Rich painting reminds me of Dad's responsibility and influence over his children.

To see more of this artist's work, visit his website:

"A Father's Influence", by Jason Rich