God's Lent Child

"I'll lend you for a little while

A child of mine" God said,
"For you to love the while he lives,

And mourn for when he's dead.
It may be six or seven years,

Or forty-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 a solace for your grief.
I cannot promise he will stay,

Since all from Earth return;
But there are lessons taught below 

That I want my children to learn.

I've looked the whole world over,

In my search for teachers true;
And from the things that crowd life's lane,

I have chosen you.
Now will you give him all your love?

Nor think the labor vain?
Nor hate me when I come to take 

This lent child back again? "

I fancied that I heard them say

"Dear Lord, Thy will be done,
For all the joys Thy child will bring 

The risk of grief we'll run.
We will shelter him with tenderness, 

We'll love him while we may
And for the happiness we've known 

Forever grateful stay.
But should Thy angels call for him

Much sooner than we'd planned,
We'll brave the bitter grief that comes

And try to understand.