Can you imagine what it was like in heaven when God decided to create Clay Aiken?
God paces. He is sad. An angel is worried. "What is wrong?" God answers, "There is a storm on Earth. It is affecting almost all my people. There is prejudice, intolerance, indifference, hatred, ignorance, immorality, disrespect, laziness, intimidation, criticism and rudeness. It worries me. I need someone to help me on Earth.
The angel answered, "You are God. Why don't you just destroy this storm?"
"I could do this, but I have to give my people the choice.
They must make the choice: choose right or wrong."
"Go tell all the other angels and the cherubs to meet me in the throne room. We shall discuss this matter."
Doing as the angel was told, all met God to discuss this problem. "I can do all things, but I want this to be a
special project. I have decided to create a new child.
What I want from you are some ideas for this new child.
This child will be a male child, but he can not be perfect. I want to hear your ideas."
One angel said, "Give him a special talent."
Another angel said, "Give him integrity."
The third angel said, "Make him wise, well-grounded, but not weak."
God answered, "I have the child in mind. He shall be born into a challenge. Each challenge shall be written on his heart, and he will learn from each of these challenges. This child shall have these traits: I will make him independent, sure of himself. I will give him the chance to fight prejudice, intolerance, rudeness and indifference. He shall have a special talent. I will give him a voice…as pure as the first snow.
I will make him a large heart to love all my children.
I will give him tolerance for my weaker children and he shall speak for them.
I will give him large hands...soft enough to cradle a small, sick child but strong enough to grasp the hands of the rulers of the world. I will give him intelligence, influence, individuality, and character. I will give him red hair so my people will notice him. I will give him eyes, deep, piercing green; so as to be able to look into mens' souls. And his talent will be so impressive, that he shall be known worldwide.
He shall be impressive but he will always be gracious.
He shall have a magical voice. It will touch many people, but when he sings to me, I shall call on the winds of the four corners of the Earth, to make his voice strong, proud, and spiritual...
so spiritual and impressive that people will weep and rethink their own lives."
"Don't you think you are asking too much of this child?" said one angel.
God answered, "Yes, I ask much, but in return, I will give much."
A tiny cherub said, "God, I think you need to give this child one more thing."
"What else could I possibly give?"
The cherub asked, "Why not freckles to go with his red hair?"
God answered, "Wonderful suggestion. I will call on the stars in the heavens.
I will give this child many freckles; one freckle for each life, for each soul he touches.
They will be as the stars in the sky: too many to count.
They will be my love marks on this child."
God was pleased with the helper He was creating. So on November 30, 1978,
a small male child, named Clayton, was born: not perfect, but beautiful in the eyes of God.
He was created by design, molded in love, and with a talent so beautiful and strong that when he sings, even
God sees him illuminating the world. But when he sings to God, the four winds spread the voice over the world, making it stronger and so honest that even God and the angels weep.
And God was pleased.
Denise Knott
