"To All Parents"
"I will lend you, for a little time,
a child of mine," He said,
"For you to love for 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 you grief.
I cannot promise he will stay
since all from the earth return,
But there are lessons taught down there
I want this child to learn.
I've looked the wide world over
in search of teachers true,
And from the throngs that crowd life's lanes
I have selected you.
Now will you give him all your love,
nor think the labor vain,
Nor hate me when I come to call
to take him back again?
I fancied that I heard them say,
'Dear Lord, thy will be done!
For all the joys Thy child shall 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've known
forever grateful stay.
But should the angels call for him
much sooner than we planned,
We'll brave the bitter grief that comes
and try to understand.' "
-Edgar Guest-
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"To All Parents" "I will lend you, for a little time, a child of mine," He said, "For you to love for 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 you grief. I cannot promise he will stay since all from the earth return, But there are lessons taught down there I want this child to learn. I've looked the wide world over in search of teachers true, And from the throngs that crowd life's lanes I have selected you. Now will you give him all your love, nor think the labor vain, Nor hate me when I come to call to take him back again? I fancied that I heard them say, 'Dear Lord, thy will be done! For all the joys Thy child shall 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've known forever grateful stay. But should the angels call for him much sooner than we planned, We'll brave the bitter grief that comes and try to understand.' " -Edgar Guest-
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