To All Parents

A week ago our second grandchild turned 10. She finally hit the double digits her Auntie Robin told her. It was a joyous occasion for us all. Several days after the event as I drove her to my house Aubrey spoke up and had a question for Grandma. "Grandma,' she said all so soberly, "would my twin be 10 also?" Beating the words out of my mouth were the tears from my eyes.

While still snuggled in the womb where the two of them lived temporarily together Aubrey's twin was lost in a miscarriage. Aubrey started out with someone at her side but she would go on to face the world alone without the twin brother or sister she played together with in her mother’s womb.

After explaining to her that they too would be 10 I thought of an old poem I had found when Aubrey’s mom was just a little girl. The poem called "To All Parents." Indeed an old treasure with strong words that still held their meaning.


To All Parents

“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 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 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 or think the labor vain
Nor hate Me when I come to call to take him back again?”

I fancied that I heard them say, “Dear LORD, thy will be done,
For all the joy thy child shall bring, the risk of grief’s 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’d planned,
We’ll brave the bitter grief that comes and try to understand.

Author, unknown


Grandma loves you Aubrey, Happy Birthday Girl, Happy Birthday. God bless baby twin!