Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Support Group

I'll 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 year,
or seventy-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 shall 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
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,
not to think the labor vain,
Nor hate Me when I come to
call to take him back again?

I fancied that I heard you say:
"Dear Lord, Thy will be done,
For all the joy 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 shall the angels call for him
much sooner than we'd planned,
We'll brave the bitter grief that
comes, and try to understand."

I found this poem on the fsma website.
Posted on 12/20/06, 02:32 pm