A Child Loaned

[butterflyAdam]

I read a lovely book called Some Party in Heaven and came across a lovely poem in it. I was also given this poem by a friend Lorraine. She had been given it by her grandmother after she lost two young daughters only months apart.  When Adam was diagnosed with Down Syndrome, a lot of people said to me that God only sends them to special people.  When Adam died, you can imagine how I felt - was I not special enough to keep him.  This poem seemed to answer that question. 

A Child Loaned

I'll lend you for a little while,
A child of mine, God said
For you to love while he shall live,
And mourn for when he's dead.
It may be 6 or 7 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 this wide world over
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 labour vain,
Nor hate me when I come to call
And take him back again.
I fancied that I heard them say
"Dear Lord, Thy will be done",
For all the joy this child shall bring
The risk of grief we'll run.
We'll shower him with tenderness
and 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.

Author unknown

[Jen]

Hi E

I love this poem. I was also given this book by someone. How can one family go through so much?

I agree that the poem does answer many questions

Jen x

[sharon 76]

I've never read this Eleanor, the words are beautiful.

thanks for sharing .

Sharon x

[louise - Jorja's Mommy]

I've read this somewhere before, i think it was on Sands, but it always reduces me to tears. It is truely beautiful.

Louise x

[Laura]

I've red this poem before and every time I read it is brings a tear to my eye.

[Wayne]

Hi Eleanor, I love this poem. At Lee's funeral we asked my uncle to do something, (he's a retired Canon within the Church of England), however he handed us a book he wrote while he worked in Majoria(sp) and this poem was in it. The book is called Rev Jim writes......

Anyhow we tried to see if he actually wrote the poem, but he refused to say.........

EDIT;

I've just seen it on another site and it says its written by Edgar Guest, published in
the Fort Worth Star mid 1930s

[claire]

Have never read that poem before, its beautiful
C x

[Maxine]

Lovely poem~ I was given this after we lost Daisy xxxx