October 3, 1981
The day our lives changed forever. Our precious four year old, Travis, was killed in an accident on our farm. We remember this day hour by hour. We had the first frost of the fall the night before. We went out to pick his pumpkins that morning. He spent the day loading, unloading and hauling them . One of the tragedies remains that we no longer have a relationship with our nephew who was driving the tractor that ran over him. We all live with the "what ifs." Especially that DH trusted someone else with our son who was doing something we didn't allow.
We are so very thankful for the four years the Lord shared Travis with us.
A Child Of Mine
I will 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 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,
Nor think the labour vain.
Nor hate me when I come
To take him home again?
I fancied that I heard them say,
'Dear Lord, Thy will be done!'
For all the joys 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 should the angels call for him,
Much sooner than we've planned.
We'll brave the bitter grief that comes,
And try to understand.
by Edgar Alan Gast
