Little Engine, Choo-Choo

Story ID:	3932
Written by:	JANET KESSLER POLUDNIAK
Organization:	JUST ME
Story type:	Poem
Location:	Chattanooga TN USA
Year:	2004
Person:	For those struggling to persevere against things that seem insurmountable.

While visiting my mother and sisters in Chattanooga, Tennessee, I visited the Chattanooga Choo-Choo and actually rode on the little tourist trolley. The tour guide for the ride was a very knowledgeable gentleman with a great sense of humor. It was a wonderful time. Years later, while sorting pictures, I wrote this little poem--remembering the story I'd read to my children when they were little.

Often, when we look back to admire our progress, we can get tripped up with pride. The pencil drawing of the goose reminds me of this, so I thought it would be fun to share it here.



Little Engine Choo-choo
©2004, Janet K. Poludniak

Little Engine, Choo-choo, could not believe her eyes . . . .
A hill loomed in the distance and she said, to my surprise,
"Maybe I can climb it—if I get my boiler hot,
but without getting all steamed up, I think that I cannot!"

Little Engine, Choo-choo, strained to climb the hill.
She worked and chugged, whistled and puffed, and said, "I think I will."
I learned a special lesson from Choo-choo's willing heart:
if I let God stoke my furnace, and if I dare to start,

I can do most anything by staying on His track,
if I keep forging onward—not stopping to look back.
Little Choo-choo gladly yielded, and she slowly climbed the hill.
I, too, finally yielded—and I let God bend my will.