A Child Of Mine (To All Parents)
Edgar Guest
I will 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 this child to learn.
I've looked the wide 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 think the labour vain.
Nor hate me when I come
To take him home 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've planned.
We'll brave the bitter grief that comes,
And try to understand.
From The Book LIVING THE YEARS 1949
Farewell To My Son
How do you say goodbye to someone you love who is a part of you.
As I sit alone, I
ponder why? To the fairness or the unjustness. All I know is how I feel the pain
and emptiness. And who do I blame?
You were here so short a time. I watched you grow
from a happy baby to a fine young man. I was always so proud you were mine. I worried,
I fretted like all mothers from the beginning of time.
I had so many dreams and hopes
for the future. Some of our dreams were not the same, but the love and understanding
were there. Sometimes we never told each other how deep our love was, but we heard
if from others, and smiled inside.
Now the day has come that I must walk the world
alone. As the tears blur my sight and my heart seems to break, I stop and think now
how proud that you were mine for the short period of time. You touched so many people's
lives and I know they will always remember you in their own way. I thank the Creator
for each second I was your mother.
So now you know how much you are a part of me.
I say farewell for now, my son, for one day we'll be together again.
To walk the hills
and by the waters, to watch the clouds go drifting by.
Til then, I'll dream of yesterday
and take you with me wherever I go, as I walk the path of life. You're free now like
the eagle that flies.
To my son, I say my worldly goodbye.
By Barbara Gayle Bland
