A Masterpiece of Love
With artist's hands He molded her -- soft, delicate and fair;
His heart and soul poured forth in clay -- a masterpiece so rare.
And when at last His work was done, He made her lungs to breathe,
Then gave her as a gift -- a child -- to her mother and me.
And as He handed me our child, a tear rolled down His cheek.
He kissed her head, then looked at me and cleared His throat to speak."You take good care of her," He said. "I leave her to you keep.
Don't let me down; show her your love." Then, He began to weep.
"I know you'll make good parents -- that is why I've trusted you
To care for her until your time, or hers, on earth is through."And so we raised her up with love; we tried the best we could
To fill her mind with knowledge and to teach her bad from good.
She stands at last a woman; she's our little girl no more.
She's ready to leave home and face whatever lies in store.So, now, you've come to say you wish to take my daughter's hand,
To marry her and weave a life together strand by strand.
I guess it's now my turn to give my masterpiece away,
But first, to you, her bridegroom, I have just one thing to say:You take good care of her, my boy; I give her to your keep.
Don't let me down; show her your love -- forgive me if I weep.
I know you'll make her happy, son; that's why I've trusted you
To care for her until your time, or hers, on earth is through.I still recall those words that my wife's father spoke to me,
And through the years, I've passed them on to my own family.
Our kids have grown and married now, with children of their own.
The years seem more like minutes past -- oh, my, how time has flown.
My wife fell ill last autumn -- died a year ago today,
And as I sat beside her, there, I bowed my head to pray:"You take good care of her, my Lord. I leave her to your keep.
Don't let me down; show her your love." Then I began to weep.
"Your masterpiece is now complete. I give her back to you
To care for her until my own time here on earth is through."