The child...

"I'll lend you for a little time a child of mine," He said,
"for you to love while he lives
and mourn for when he's dead.
It may be fourteen or fifteen years or
thirty-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 precious memories,
as solace for your grief.
I can not promise he will stay
since all from earth return home,
but there are lessons taught down there,
I want this child to learn.

I've looked this wide world over
in my search for teachers true,
and from the throngs 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 and
take him back home again?"
I said, "Dear lord, thy will be done.
For all the joy thy child shall bring,
the risk of grief we'll run.
I'll shelter him with tenderness,
we'll love him while we may, and the
happinessI've known will forever gratefully stay.
But should the angels call for him, much sooner
than I planned I'll brave the bitter grief that
comes and try to understand."