“God’s Lent Child”
I’ll lend you for a little while,
A child of mine, God said for you to love the child she lives,
And mourn for when she’s dead.
It may be one, or two years, or forty, two or three but will you ‘till I call, her back’

Take care of her for me?
She’ll bring her charm to gladden.
you, and (should her stay be brief) You’ll
have her lovely memories, as a solace.
for your grief.
I cannot promise she will stay.

Since all from earth return;

But the lessons taught below,

I want this child to learn.
I’ve looked the whole world over in
search for teachers true; and from
the things that crowd life’s lane.
I have chosen you.
Will you give her all your love?
Nor think the task in 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 joys Thy child will bring,

The risk of grief will run.
We will shelter her with tenderness,
We’ll love her while we may,

And for the happiness we’ve known,
Forever grateful stay.
But should Thy angels call for her,

Much sooner that we’ve planned,
We’ll brave the grief that comes
and try to understand.
© Unknown Christian