Parents
(Edgar A. Guest)
"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 is dead.
It may be six or seven years,
Or twenty two or three;
But will you, 'til 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 loving 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 this child to learn,
I've looked the wide world over
In My search for teachers true,
And from all the throngs that crowd
Life's lanes I've selected you.
Now will you give her all your love,
Not think the labor vain,
Nor hate Me when I come to call
To 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,
The risk of grief we'll run.
We'll shelter him with tenderness,
We'll love him while we may,
And for the happiness we've known,
Forever grateful stay;
But should the angels call for her
Sooner than we've planned
We'll brave the bitter grief
That comes and try to understand."
Sent by Mystica on 08/04/2018