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"I'll lend you for a little time
a child of mine." He said,
"For you to love the while he lives
And mourn for, when he is dead."
It may be 36 or 37 years, or 2 months or 3
But will you, 'Till I call him back,
Care for him for me?
He'll bring charms to gladden
And should his stay be brief,
You'll have his precious memories
As solace for your grief.
I cannot promise he will stay,
Since all from earth return,
But there are lessons taught down there
I want this child to learn.
I have looked this wide world over,
In my search for teachers true,
And from the things that crowd life's lands,
I have selected you.
Now will you give him all your love,
Not think the labor vain,
Nor hate me, when I come to call
To take him 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
For ever grateful stay.
But should the angels call for him
Much sooner the we've planned,
We'll brave the little grief that comes
And try to understand.
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