An obscure village
full of poverty and pain
Had an uncanny visit
that no one could explain.
A stranger neared the village
and there removed his pack,
Then out from it he took
one full, bulging sack.
He then pulled out an empty one
for soon he'd make a trade
Crazier than any
a man had ever made.
Stooping next to a child
he said, "If you will fill
My empty sack with some dirt
then I'll make you a deal."
The youngster's eyes brightened
as he broke into a grin
And with his bare, bony hands
he shoveled plain dirt in.
The man's face was rugged
yet gentle and so kind,
He smiled and took the bag of dirt
and left his own behind.
The stranger turned and waved good-bye
then soon was out of sight
While the young child scrambled
to the man's bag with delight.
As the story has been told
the man was never found
Just the bag full of gold
he left upon the ground.
The village soon was all rebuilt
and grew into a town,
And the trade, so bizarre
was quickly made renown.
The child's marvelous story
for years he would retrace,
About the day a stranger
with a rough but kindly face
Traded him a bag of gold
for a bag of dirt,
And sometimes he would wonder
how once the man was hurt
For he could well remember
the stranger's hand held high
With a deep gaping scar
as he waved good-bye.
This story's just a fable
but the message still is true
For the same trade in spirit
he offers me and you,
A trade that's so unequal
not many give it heed
How Jesus died upon a cross
to buy the life we need.
And all he asks is childlike faith,
trusting...simple...bold
To trade our lives of sin and dirt
for his new life of gold!
full of poverty and pain
Had an uncanny visit
that no one could explain.
A stranger neared the village
and there removed his pack,
Then out from it he took
one full, bulging sack.
He then pulled out an empty one
for soon he'd make a trade
Crazier than any
a man had ever made.
Stooping next to a child
he said, "If you will fill
My empty sack with some dirt
then I'll make you a deal."
The youngster's eyes brightened
as he broke into a grin
And with his bare, bony hands
he shoveled plain dirt in.
The man's face was rugged
yet gentle and so kind,
He smiled and took the bag of dirt
and left his own behind.
The stranger turned and waved good-bye
then soon was out of sight
While the young child scrambled
to the man's bag with delight.
As the story has been told
the man was never found
Just the bag full of gold
he left upon the ground.
The village soon was all rebuilt
and grew into a town,
And the trade, so bizarre
was quickly made renown.
The child's marvelous story
for years he would retrace,
About the day a stranger
with a rough but kindly face
Traded him a bag of gold
for a bag of dirt,
And sometimes he would wonder
how once the man was hurt
For he could well remember
the stranger's hand held high
With a deep gaping scar
as he waved good-bye.
This story's just a fable
but the message still is true
For the same trade in spirit
he offers me and you,
A trade that's so unequal
not many give it heed
How Jesus died upon a cross
to buy the life we need.
And all he asks is childlike faith,
trusting...simple...bold
To trade our lives of sin and dirt
for his new life of gold!
