Childhood

CHILDHOOD Childhood’s like the passing wind Blowing through a stormy night-- Oh, to be a child again! Often I wish with all my might. Just a child at play and free, Having not a fear or care; Awed by all the things I see In this world so large and fair. Laughing, running through the woods, Fishing, swimming in the lake; I’d go back there if I could To undo my sad mistakes. Just to sit on Mother’s knee And be held close to her side; Just to hear her tenderly Calm those tears whene’er I cry. Just to be with Dad once more, Walking hand and hand the way Through the woods or on a shore And be taught there how to pray. Somehow, though childhood’s the wind Blowing through the stormy night, I would go back there once again Just to leave adulthood’s frights. For now that I am fully grown I’m become the stormy night; Days of childhood faintly known Fade away now in my sight. Seems that now I see effects Of my younger, straying days; Few good days I recollect As I walked in childhood ways. It’s so easy, yes, to blame Mom or Dad for storms I see Just to keep clear my own name And not put the blame on me. Perhaps in the storms they failed Sometimes the best, true guides to be, Yet somehow they did prevail; Now the rest is up to me. I was taught all through the storm That there was a God above Who could keep me safe and warm In the shelter of His love. So I have myself to blame If by their failures I was led To live in that old life of shame, Not listening to what good was said. I can’t be that child again, Nor can I undo the past, But to Christ I’ve said, “I’ve sinned,” And received His Son at last. Though I still the storms recall Of my childhood’s wandering days, He forgave, forgot them all When to Calvary I did gaze! I can now His child be Though adulthood I live in, Trusting in His grace so free To forgive me from my sin. Some day with a brand new mind I will walk on heaven’s shore, And the best things I will find There in peace forever more. I will never up there face All my failures and my sin, Nor will I look back in disgrace Nor remember it again. I don’t know how old I’ll be When I’m clad in my new frame, But I’ll be there eternally Praising Jesus’ precious name! And with all my memories gone Of those sinful childhood days, I will face that glorious dawn As innocent as in childhood days!