We were at the barn one day.
It was just my son and me.
And when we were finished feeding,
He hopped up on my knee.

"Ah, Daddy", he said.
And with a heart plum full of pride,
I waited for his question
What was on his mind.

Oh, we've solved the world's problems
At that barn up there.
And I wouldn't trade th eworld
For the time we've shared.

"Ah, Daddy", he said.
"What son?", I said to him.
"Are you the toughest man?", he asked,
"That has ever lived?"

I thought there for a minute
Pride swelling up inside.
"No son", I had to answer,
"But I'm tough as old rawhide."

"Well if it ain't you, then daddy,
Who is the toughest of them all?
I know the answer daddy,
I'll bet its grandpaw."

"No son, it ain't your grandpaw,
Though he's a toughen too.
But I'll tell you all about
The toughest man I ever knew."

"I met him some years back.
But the story don't start there.
I'll start the story with his mom.
She was a lady rare.

Now just sit down here beside me
And listen to me son
And I'll tell you all about this man
And how it all began.

A long long time ago
On a cold and snowy day
His mom had traveled far
And she had no place to stay.

She'd come riding into town
Her man walking by her side.
They only had one mount
And he'd insisted that she ride.

Oh he loved this woman dearly
And he was worried for her now.
She was heavy with a baby
Shelter must be found somehow.

They made their way down the street
Stopped at the local inn;
But they were told there was no room
As they shivered in the wind.

But the fellow at the inn,
He was a kindly man.
He could see the lady needed rest
So he gave thema hand.

He said, "I'm very sorry,
But there's strangers all around
And I doubt that you'll find a room
Anywhere in town."

"But I got a barn out back of here
And I'd be proud if you would stay.
We'll make a bed all nice and warm
Right there in the hay."

"Now son, when you were born
There were doctors all around
And your mom was in a nice soft bed
Not laid out on the ground.

And after you'd been born
And after you wre fed
A nice little bassinet
Became your first bed.

But when this baby boy was born
They wrapped him in some cloth
And laid him in a bed of hay
In an old feed trough.

Ah, son, there's so much to this story
More than I could ever tell.
I'll just tell the most important part
The part I like so well.

His mom done the best she could
Her man never left her side.
Her boy grew up tough and strong
And from danger he never shied.

The life he chose would get him killed
And he always knew it would.
But he never compromised
He fought for what was good.

The toughest man I ever knew
He didn't give an inch.
Whenthey slapped him in the face, son
He never even flinched.

You see, he loved these people son
They just didn't understand.
He could have fought or run away
But he knew there was a plan.

He knew he had to die there
So that we could live.
He never turned his back on us
And his life he did give.

The toughest man I ever knew
Even death couldn't hold him in
He came up out of that grave
And right then our war was won.

Some people say he don't exist.
The toughest man I ever knew.
But son, I know him personally
And son, this story's true.

Someday you'll want tomeet him.
Son, you'll know when that time's right.
And I'll be proud to introduce him.
His name is Jesus Christ.

~ The end of the poem; but not the end of the story ~