A sympathetic message to parents who have lost a child.

[Betty]

“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 there I want his child to learn.
I’ve looked the wide world over, in my search for teacher true,
And from the throngs that crowd life’s way I have selected you”.
“Now will you give him all your love nor think the labour vain,
Nor hate me when I come to call, to take back again?”
I fancied that I hear them say, “Dear Lord, Thy will be done,
For all the joy Thy child will 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 have known forever grateful stay:
But shall the angels call him much sooner than we have planned,
We’ll brave the bitter grief that comes and try to understand.”