Baby Tears

We cried tears when we learned that a child would be,
that our God had allowed you to quicken in me.
We cried tears with our loved ones as they shared our joy,
and we thought about names for a girl or a boy.
I cried tears as I thought of the things we would do,
all the things that your daddy would pass on to you.
I cried tears as I thought of each inch you had grown,
as I pondered the day that you'd make yourself known.
Then to think of the world you must enter brought fears,
once again little loved one your mother cried tears.
Something's wrong, I can tell - once again there are tears,
and I'll not get the chance of your love through the years.
Oh the ache and the sorrow and all of the pain,
and again, yes again my tears fall like rain.
Then his peace comes to me as I think of you there,
gently rocking with Father in His favorite chair.
Your sweet little fingers clenched tight in his palm,
and His Son softly singing to help you keep calm.
Our God knew your days before you came to be,
and He knew little one you would not stay with me,
so I cry, but I know that when this life is done,
I will greet and embrace you my sweet little one.
There's a time to be born and a time to die,
and the joy and the sorrow both make us cry.
~Connie Johnson~

What Makes a Mother

I thought of you and closed my eyes.
And prayed to God today.
I asked what makes a mother and
I know I heard him say,

A mother has a baby.
This we know is true.
But God, can you be a mother
when your baby's not with you?

Yes, you can, He replied
with confidence in His voice.
I give many women babies.
When they leave is not their choice.

Some I send for a lifetime
and others for a day.
And some I send to feel your womb
but there's no need to stay.

I just don't understand this. God,
I want my baby here.
He took a breath and cleared His throat
and then I saw a tear.

I wish I could show you
what your child is doing today.
If you could see your child smile
with other children and say,

"We go to earth to learn our lessons
of life and love and fear.
My Mommy loved me, Oh so much,
I got to come straight here.

I feel so lucky to have a Mom
who had so much love for me,
I learned my lesson very quickly.
My Mommy set me free.

I miss my Mommy, Oh so much,
but I visit her each day.
When she goes to sleep,
on her pillow's where I lay.

I stroke her hair and kiss her cheek
and whisper in her ear,
'Mommy don't be sad today,
I'm your baby and I'm here.'"

So you see, my dear sweet one,
your children are okay.
Your babies are here in MY home
and this is where they'll stay.

They'll wait for you with ME
until your lesson is through.
And on the day that you come home,
they'll be at the gates for you.

So now you see what makes a Mother—
It's the feeling in your heart.
It's the love you had so much of,
right from the very start.

Though some on earth may not realize you are a Mother,
until their time is done.
They'll be up here with ME one day,
and know you're the best one.
~Jennifer Wasik~
written in memory of her son Zachery 01/29/98

O Precious

O precious, tiny sweet little one,
You will always be to me
So perfect, pure and innocent
Just as you were meant to be:
We dreamed of you and your life
And all that it would be,
We waited and longed for you to come
And join our family
We never had the chance to play,
To laugh, to rock, to wiggle
We long to hold you, touch you now
And listen to you giggle,
I'll always be your Mom,
He'll always be your Dad,
You will always be our child,
The child that we had,
But now you're gone...
But yet, you're here,
We'll sense you everywhere:
You are our sorrow and our joy
There's love in every tear.
Just know our love goes deep and strong,
We'll forget you never.
The child we had, but never had
And yet will have forever.
Author Unknown

When God sends forth a tiny soul
To learn the ways of earth.
A mother's love is wating here
We call this wonder birth.

When God calls home a little soul
And stills a fleeting breath,
A Father's love is wating there,
This too is birth, not death

They Don't Know What to Say

This poem is dedicated to my parents, Archie and Elaine Bert

NOW I KNOW I never knew,
when you lost your child, What you were going through.
I wasn't there, I stayed away, I just deserted you.

I didn't know the words to say, I didn't know the things to do.
I think your pain so frightened me, I didn't know how to comfort you.

And then one day my child died. You were the first one there.
You quietly stayed by my side, listened, And held me as I cried.
You didn't leave, you didn't go. The lesson learned is . . . Now I know.

This poem was written by Alice Kerr of Lower Bucks, PA. She is a member of the Compassionate Friends, an organization for parents who have lost a child.

I'll Lend You a Child

I'll lend you for a little while a child of mine", God said.
"For you to love the while she lives and mourn for when she's gone.
It may be one or seven years- or twenty-two or three.
But will you, till 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 have her lovely memories as solace for your grief.
I cannot promise she 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 her all your love and not think the labor vain.
Nor hate me as I come to call to take her back again?
I fancied that I heard you say, "Dear God, Thy will be done.
For all the joy this child shall bring. The risk of grief I'll run".
I'll shelter her with tenderness. I'll love her while I may.
And for the happiness I've known. Forever grateful stay.
But should the angels call for her much sooner than I'd planned.
I'll brave the bitter grief that comes and try to understand.
by Edgar Guest

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