Madyson Kay Landrum

by Dianna Landrum

In Memory of Madyson

We lost our 17-day-old granddaughter to SIDS on 03/14/98. She was born on 02/25/98. The following poem fell out of my mother's family bible on the Monday night before Mady Kay died on Saturday (my mother had cut it out of the paper when my daughter, now 30 years old, was born).

Someone has probably already provided this poem to the SIDS Network, but my son and daughter-in-law have felt that this really helped them to get through the first weeks. Are there other grandparents communicating through the SIDS Network?

"I'll lend you for a little time
A child of mine", Christ said,
"For you to love while she lives
And mourn for her when she's dead.

It may be six 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 loving memories,
As solace to 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 looked the wide world over,
In my search for teachers true
And from the throngs that crowd life's lane,
I have selected you.

Now will you give her all your love,
Nor think the labor vain
Nor hate me, when I come to call,
To take her back again.

I fancied that I heard you say,
Dear lord, thy will be done;
For all the joy thy child shall bring,
The risk of grief we'll run.

We'll shelter her with tenderness,
We'll have her while we pray
And for the happiness we've known
Forever grateful stay.

But shall the angels call for her,
Much sooner than we planned
We'll brave the bitter grief that comes,
And try to understand."

Author: anonymous