Armor Poem by Pleasant Dabbs

On the Saturday that just passed
My son Josh was the last one
To join all his friends in the street
He woke up real late, then did the chores that he hates,
And before leaving he had to eat.
No time to get dressed, so he put on some grubbies
He didn't look like a king, but he didn't look scrubby
He wore tennis shoes, and had sweats that were blue,
And his jersey had a big "#3"

The friends had a ball game but Josh had a small frame,
And he didn't have any protection
His friends were all bigger,
They played football with rigor,
And this caused him some serious reflection
He wondered if, in fact, his body could take it
But he just had to play and thought…
"How can I make it?
Because the sport thrills me, if nobody kills me.
It's too early for my resurrection."

He hustled back home to his room where he'd thrown
All his clothes and his football equipment
He looked through what he had,
And only found knee pads,
And this thought filled him full of resentment
He resented the fact that he was a small fry
He resented the thought that he really could die
If he made it through this one without being undone,
It really would be an achievement

At the first of the year, when he purchased his gear,
He refused to get all of the outfit
He could run really fast,
So he thought he would speed past
His opponents without getting hit
He got pads for his knees
Because they both had been injured
The rest was in good shape, they had never been hurt
But the truth of the matter was-
His heart pitter-pattered.
You could say he was scared just a bit

His mind was tormented, he wished he could repent of
The choice that he made long ago
But now it was late and the kids wouldn't wait.
So he started playing and didn't think of the foe
He went in to throw passes because he had a good arm
And his line would protect him,
There was not any harm
He went back for a pass
Then caught his foot in the grass,
And who did the guys pile on? -You know!

He was hurt pretty bad,
They took him home to his Dad
Who laid him down and inspected his body
They had plastered his chest, and bruised all the rest,
And his eyesight had turned rather shoddy
Dad asked, "And your knees? "
Cause they'd hurt him before…
Josh said they felt fine. His knee pads he'd worn
"My knees feel okay! But I wish I could say
The same thing about the rest of my body"

"Son, do you remember way back in September
When all the football gear went on sale? "
I suggested you get the entire outfit.
But you said, "I'm no wimp, I'm not frail!
It's a waste of my money to buy all this stuff
I'll just wrap my knees-I think that is enough
I don't need all this gear, and besides, I don't fear
All those guys, I'm as fast as a rail! "

Now son, you are brave, but your body is craving
Some safety… a little protection
It says, ‘Please defend me. If not you will send me
To the-other-world…and that's not my selection
If you don't want to get hurt put on all of your armor
The shoulder pads, knee pads
And helmet will then be your
Perfect defense against those giants- Makes sense?
And the game will be yours. No objection?

The ball game of life is a quite different fight
Against a foe that's not easily conquered
The armor's the same, but to win at this game
You must be somewhat of an expert
The pads on your loins are the truth of the gospel
And good, righteous living is a breastplate that's full
Of unselfish labor, good acts towards your neighbor,
And living God's law. Do you concur?

Your feet must be dressed with peace,
That's the best way
To share gospel truths with your brother
And then take the shield of faith. Don't you yield
To the bawdy suggestions of others
The helmet you wear is your own exaltation;
The Spirit's sharp sword is God's word: revelation
To help you in the fight against the Evil One's might
Yes, the Devil and all of his brothers

And then you must pray in the spirit with faith
For all Saints, that they may be pure
That they'll be protected and you'll be selected
As one of His army. I'm sure
That you'll fight in the war on his side. It's a battle
With Satan, his warriors and darkness. And that'll
Be a war you will fight for all that is right
Forever. And you must endure.

So wherever you go wear God's armor
And you'll know
That He will always protect you
You'll have strength to contend
With temptations and sin
And no evil will ever affect you
That doesn't mean that you won't be attacked
But endure what you can. And then only fight back
Using God's mighty weapons,
And His power will deaden
The Beast, he might even respect you.



c aaron