“Take this child and nurse it for me” –
So King Pharoah’s daughter spake
To the mother whose whole being,
For her little one did ache.
So God speaks to every mother
At her helpless infant’s birth:
“Take this child and nurse it for Me,
During all its life on earth.”
“Take this child, to Thee I trust it;
It from Thee must learn the way,
Through the earthly darkness round it,
To the light of heavenly day.”
“Take this child – and Mother ponder!
Yonder heaven is pure and fair:
Wouldest thou be amidst its number
And thy little one not there?”
“Oh, then train it, gently, wisely,
All its Saviour’s love to feel;
And, where sin has cast its shadow,
Teach it Christ has power to heal.”
“Take this child, this richest blessing,
Given to the earthly home;
Take this child, and nurse it for Me
Till to seek Mine own I come.”
~ Harriet Agnes McNair, 1865
“Lo children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward” (Psalm 127:3).