God’s ChildI’ll lend you for a little while
a child of mine, God said.
For you to love, while she lives
and mourn ~ when she’s dead.It may be four or fourteen years,
or just 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 should 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 my child to learn.I’ve looked the whole world over
in my search for teachers true ~
and from the throng that crowd life’s lane,
I have chosen you!Now, will you give her all your love?
Not think the labor vain?
Nor hate me when I come to call
to take her back again?I fancied that I heard you say,
“Dear Lord, Thy will be done.
For all the joy Thy child shall bring
the risk of grief we’ll run.We will shelter Julia with tenderness.
We’ll love her while we may
and for the happiness we’ll know,
forever grateful we’ll stay.Now, should Thy Angel call for Julia
much sooner than we’ve planned ~
we’ll brave the bitter grief that comes
and try to understand!