-
- To All Parents
- "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's dead.
- It may be six or seven years,or twenty-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 shall her stay
be brief
- You'll have her lovely 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 the throngs that crowd life's lane I have
selected you.
- Now will you give her all your love , nor 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 her with tenderness, we'll love her while we
may,
- And for the happiness we've known, forever grateful stay:
- But shall the angels call for her much to sooner than
we've planned,
- We'll brave the bitter grief that comes and try to
understand."
-
- Edgar A. Guest
