A Lament

Your tiny faces wake me up

In the middle of the night

Tears streaming down my face

I can almost still feel you beside me

My heart cries out with longing deep

Why were you not for me to keep?

I feel your sweat lingering on my cheek

Your kisses pure and sweet

I see your smile when I look at you

Hear you laugh when I tickle that sweet belly

My heart cries out with longing deep

Why were you not for me to keep?

I loved you with the Father's heart

Felt as if you had been mine forever

Sang you lullabies when you couldn't sleep

Rocked you back and forth, steadily

My heart cries out with longing deep

Why were you not for me to keep?

In my arms you found your rest

Fell asleep upon my chest

You cried and came looking for me

I wiped tears, held tightly

My heart cries out with longing deep

Why were you not for me to keep?

I changed diapers, gave baths

Cleaned up all manner of messes

Undid your precious braids

Whispered sweet love into your ears

My heart cries out with longing deep

Why were you not for me to keep?

I did the hard things

Disciplined when you were wrong

Always spoke words of redemption

Loved you when you were in sin

My heart cries out with longing deep

Why were you not for me to keep?

I placed you gently on the alter

Gave you to my faithful Father

My heart wracked with anguish deep

Lord, my God, they are for You to keep

"The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away.

Blessed be the name of the LORD."

(Job 1:21)

*Note: For those of you who don't know, this is a post concerning the children I cared for when I was in Haiti.