In Your Heart

 

"Tomorrow morning", the surgeon began,

"I will open up your heart..."

 

"You will find God there," the boy interrupted.

 

The surgeon looked up, annoyed.

"I´ll cut your heart open," he continued,

"to see how much damage has been done..."

 

"But when you open my heart you will find

God in there."

 

The surgeon looked to the parents, who sat

quietly. "When I see how much damage

has been done I´ll sew your heart and chest

back up and I´ll plan what do do next."

 

"But you will find God in my heart. The Bible

says he lives there. The hymns all say he

lives there. You will find him in my heart."

 

The surgeon had enough. "I will tell what I´ll

find in your heart. I´ll find damaged muscle,

low blood supply and weakened vessels. And

I´ll find out if I can make you well."

 

"You´ll find God there too. He lives there."

 

 

 

 

The surgeon left. Later he sat in his office recording

his notes from the surgery.

"...damaged aorta, damaged pulmonary vein,

widespread muscle degeneration. No hope for

transplant, no hope for cure.

Therapy: painkillers and bed rest.

Prognosis: here he paused,

"death within one year."

He stopped the recorder, but there was more

to be said. "Why?" he asked out aloud.

"Why did you do this? You´ve put him here.

You´ve put him in this pain and you´ve

cursed him to an early death. Why?"

The Lord answered and said, "The boy was

not meant for your flock for long, for he is

part of my flock and will forever be. Here, in my

flock, he will feel no pain and will be comforted

as you cannot imagine. His parents will one day

join him here and they will know peace and

my flock will continue to grow."

 

The surgeon´s tears were hot, but his anger

was hotter. "You created that boy and you

created that heart. He will be dead in months.

Why?"

 

The Lord answered, "The boy shall return to my

flock for he has done his duty:

I did not put him with your flock to lose him,

but to retrieve another lost lamb."

 

The surgeon wept. He sat beside the boy´s bed,

the boy´s parents sat across from him.

The boy awoke and whispered, "Did you cut

open my heart?"

 

"Yes," said the surgeon.

 

"What did you find?" asked the boy.

 

"I found God in there," said the surgeon.

 

 

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