I'll Lend You a Child

I'll Lend You A Child

author unknown

"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 six or seven years

Or twenty-two or three,

But will you, till I call him back,

Take care or him for Me?

He'll bring his smiles to gladden you,

And should this 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 this child to learn.

I've looked this world over

In 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,

Nor count 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 joy 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've planned,

We'll brave the bitter grief that come

And try to understand."

I must say that my faith has not always been strong, but losing Eli has taken it all away. I know there are many of you still praying for us and while I thank you, I am a little doubtful of it's power since it failed to save my little boy. I hope these feelings will go away soon, but I know I'm not the first or last person to be mad at God.