God’s Loan
This is a poem I (Joanne) first saw when Celia was in the hospital neonatal unit in
Edmonton, Alberta, because so many premature babies didn’t make it.
We had it read at her memorial service.
God’s Loan
I’ll lend to 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.
A child of mine, He said,
For you to love the while he lives
And mourn for when he’s dead.
He may be six or seven years,
Or twenty–two or three,
But will you, till I call for him,
Take care of him for me?
Or twenty–two or three,
But will you, till I call for him,
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.
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.
Since all from earth return,
But there are lessons taught down there
I want this child to learn.
I’ve looked this wide world over
In my search for teachers true,
And from the throngs that crowd life’s lanes
I have selected you.
In my 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 labor vain,
Nor hate me when I come to call
To take him back again?
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 the child will bring,
The risk of grief we’ll run.”
“Dear Lord, Thy will be done,
For all the joys the child will 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.
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.”
Much sooner than we planned,
We’ll brave the bitter grief that comes
And try to understand.”