V76: God’s Lent Child

“I’ll lend you for a little while, a child of mine, God said,
“For you to love the while she lives, and mourn
for when she’s dead.
It may be six or seven years, or forty-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 always have her memories
as a solace for your grief.
I cannot promise she will stay, since all from earth return
But there are lessons taught below I want
this child to learn.
I’ve looked this whole world over in my search
for teachers true,
And from the folks that crowd life’s lane,
I have chosen you.”
“Now will you give her all your love nor think
the labour vain,
Nor hate me when I come to take this lent child
back again?”
I fancied that I heard her say, “dear Lord Thy Will be done.
For all the joys Thy child will bring, 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 come for her
much sooner than we’ve planned,
We’ll brave the bitter grief that comes
and try to understand.”