The Heart

'Tomorrow morning,' the surgeon began,
'I'll open up your heart...'

'You'll find Jesus 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 up my heart, you'll
find Jesus in there,' said the boy.

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 to do next.'

'But you'll find Jesus in my heart.
The Bible says He lives there.
The hymns all say He lives there.
You'll find Him in my heart.'

The surgeon had had enough.
'I'll tell you 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 Jesus there too. He lives there.'

The surgeon left.

The surgeon 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 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,
my lamb, was not meant for your flock for long,
for he is a 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'll be dead in months. Why?'

The Lord answered, 'The boy, My lamb,
shall return to My flock,
for He has done his duty:
I did not put My lamb with your flock to lose him,
but to retrieve another lost lamb.'

The surgeon wept...

The surgeon 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 Jesus there,' said the surgeon.

(Author Unknown)