A Child Loaned
“I’ll lend you for a little time
A child of Mine.” HE said.
“For you to love the while she lives
And mourn for when she’s dead.
It may be six or seven year
Or twenty-two or three
But will you, till I call her back
Take care of her for Me?
She’ll bring her charms to gladden you
And should her stay be brief,
You’ll have her lovely memories
As solace for your grief.
I cannot promise she will stay
Since all from Earth return,
But there are lessons taught down there
I want the child to learn.
I’ve looked this wide world over
In my search for teacher’s true,
And from the throngs that crowd life’s lanes,
I have selected you;
Now will you give her all your love,
Nor think the labor vain
Nor hate Me when I come to call
And take her back again?I fancied that I heard them say,
“Dear Lord, Thy will be done,
For all the joy Thy child shall bring,
For the risk of grief we’ll run.
We’ll shelter her with tenderness,
We’ll love her while we may,
And for the happiness we’ve known,
Forever grateful stay.
But should the angels call for her
Much sooner than we planned,We’ll brave the bitter grief that comes
And try to understand.”
– Edward A. Guest