I’ll lend you for a little while, a child of mine, God said

For you to love her while she lives and mourn for when she’s dead

It may be six or seven years, or forty two or three

But will you, ‘til I call her back, take care of her for me? 

She’ll bring her charms to gladden you and should her stay be brief

You’ll always have her memory as solace for your grief.

I cannot promise she will stay since all from earth returns

but there are lessons taught below I want this child to learn.                                    

I’ve searched this whole world over in search for teachers true

And from the folks that crowd life’s lane I have chosen you.

Now will you give her all your love nor think the labour vain

Nor hate me when I come to take this lent child back again.? 

I fancied that I heard her say “Dear Lord, thy will be done,

For all the joys this child will bring the risk of grief we’ll run

We’ll shelter her with tenderness, we’ll love her while we may,

 and for the happiness we’ve known we’ll ever grateful stay.

But should the angels come for her much sooner than we’d planned,

we’ll brave the bitter grief that comes and try to understand.