1 Let flow our tears in grief for this,
our little ones, now gone from us,
whom not so long ago were born,
now all that's left to do is mourn,
but we refuse to be consoled
like Rachel weeping for her children.
2 Our voices join with all of those
who weep to hold their children close
but cannot reach beyond their dust
to lines they drew, their little trusts
and they refuse to be consoled
these parents weeping for their children.
3 All death and hope are met in one
born long ago who is God's Son
whose birth provoked the tyrant's rage
who tramples wanton through our age.
Still we refuse to be consoled
like Rachel weeping for her children.
4 For who of us can stop the hand
of brutal demons in the land
whose fury aims to hurt and kill
the innocents whose screams are still
upon the air and unconsoled
with parents weeping for their children.
5 All we can do is turn to him
who died in old Jerusalem
and wept abandoned on the cross
disarming demons there for us
so one day we might be consoled
with Rachel weeping for our children.
Source: New Hymns of Hope #143
Gracia Grindal (b. Powers Lake, ND, 1943). Grindal was educated at Augsburg College, Minneapolis, Minnesota; the University of Arkansas; and Luther-Northwestern Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota, where she has served since 1984 as a professor of pastoral theology and communications. From 1968 to 1984 she was a professor of English and poet-in-residence at Luther College, Decorah, Iowa. Included in her publications are Sketches Against the Dark (1981), Scandinavian Folksongs (1983), Lessons in Hymnwriting (1986, 1991), We Are One in Christ: Hymns, Paraphrases, and Translations (1996), Good News of Great Joy: Advent Devotions for the Home (1994 with Karen E. Hong), Lina Sandell, the Story of Her Hymns (2001 with John Jansen), and A Revelry of Har… Go to person page >
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