I have a child named Jessica
that I'll lend you for a while,
For you to love her while she lives,
and mourn for 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 charm to glanden you,
and should her stay be brief,
You'll have her lovely memory
as solace for your grief.
I can not promise she will stay,
since all from earth returns,
but there are lessons taught down there
I want Jessica to learn.
I've looked this whole world over
in my search for teachers true,

The couple bowed their heads and said:

Dear Lord, thy will be done,
for all the joy that Jessica will bring,
the risk of grief we'll run.
We'll shelter her with tenderness,
we'll love her while we may,
and for the happiness we've known,
we'll forever grateful stay.
But should the angels call for her
much sooner than we planned,
we'll brave the bitter grief that comes
and try to understand.

Selena Renee Figueroa

Alex Enrique Figueroa
December 1999