A CHILD LOANED
"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's dead.
It may be six or seven years or twenty-two or three, but will you,
till I call him back, take care of him for Me?
He'll bring his charms to gladden you, and should his stay be brief,
you'll have his lovely memories as solace for your grief.
"I cannot promise he will stay, since all from earth return, but there
are lessons taught down here I want this child to learn.
I've looked this wide world over in My search for teachers true,
and from the throngs that crowd life's lanes I have selected you.
Now will you give him all your love, not think the labour vain, or hate
Me when I come to call and take him back again?"
I fancied that I heard them say, "Dear Lord, Thy Will be done.
For all the joy the child shall bring, the risk of grief we'll run.
We'll love him while we may, and for the happyness we've known,
forever grateful stay.
But should the Angels call him for much sooner than we planned
we'll brave the bitter grief that comes and try to understand."
~Don Larson 1974~
"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's dead.
It may be six or seven years or twenty-two or three, but will you,
till I call him back, take care of him for Me?
He'll bring his charms to gladden you, and should his stay be brief,
you'll have his lovely memories as solace for your grief.
"I cannot promise he will stay, since all from earth return, but there
are lessons taught down here I want this child to learn.
I've looked this wide world over in My search for teachers true,
and from the throngs that crowd life's lanes I have selected you.
Now will you give him all your love, not think the labour vain, or hate
Me when I come to call and take him back again?"
I fancied that I heard them say, "Dear Lord, Thy Will be done.
For all the joy the child shall bring, the risk of grief we'll run.
We'll love him while we may, and for the happyness we've known,
forever grateful stay.
But should the Angels call him for much sooner than we planned
we'll brave the bitter grief that comes and try to understand."
~Don Larson 1974~
Music: somewhere over the Rainbow