After my mommy-blogger friend Lisa posted an Edgar Guest poem the other day, I'm reminded of how much I love this faithful man's poetry. I've been looking for one I read a few years ago, to no avail.
But I did find this beautiful poem entitled "A Child of Mine". It so beautifully expresses that our children are a gift from our Father. They are not ours, but His, and we need to be faithful to the Lord as we raise them up in Him.
A Child of Mine, Edgar Albert 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.
Brief Biography of Edgar Guest, below, found here, along with this poem.
Edgar Albert Guest was born in Britain but grew up and spent most of his life in the U.S.A. He was a product of "small town" America and the values and lifestyle he had as a boy permeates his writing both prose and poem. He worked most of his adult life as a newspaperman, syndicated country wide and is reputed to have had a new poem published in a newspaper every day for over 30 years.
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But I did find this beautiful poem entitled "A Child of Mine". It so beautifully expresses that our children are a gift from our Father. They are not ours, but His, and we need to be faithful to the Lord as we raise them up in Him.
A Child of Mine, Edgar Albert 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.
Brief Biography of Edgar Guest, below, found here, along with this poem.
Edgar Albert Guest was born in Britain but grew up and spent most of his life in the U.S.A. He was a product of "small town" America and the values and lifestyle he had as a boy permeates his writing both prose and poem. He worked most of his adult life as a newspaperman, syndicated country wide and is reputed to have had a new poem published in a newspaper every day for over 30 years.
image
3 comments:
Oh Gosh tears, so many tears......Thank you for sharing.
Dear Tesha, I knew for you it would have a poignant meaning. We have so much to be grateful for in our children and so much to lose too, it's true. I shudder to think of the fragility and the trust involved. Bless your friend and thank you for your faithful comments. Hugs too.
Thanks for sharing this! It is so beautiful!
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