HEART OF THE MATTER Anonymous

One day a young man was standing in the middle of the town proclaiming he had the most beautiful heart in the whole valley. A large crowd gathered and they all admired his heart for it was perfect. There was not a mark or a flaw in it.

Yes, they all agreed it truly was the most beautiful heart they had ever seen. The young man was very proud and boasted more loudly about his beautiful heart.

Suddenly, an old man appeared at the front of the crowd and said, "Why your heart is not nearly as beautiful mine." The crowd and the young man looked at the old man's heart.

It was beating stronly, but full of scars, it had places where pieces had been removed and other pieces had been removed and other pieces put in, but they didn't fit quite right and there were several jagged edges. In fact, in some places there were deep gouges where whole pieces were missing.

The people stared--how can he say his heart is more beautiful, the thought? The young man looked at the old man's heart and saw its state and laughed. "You must be joking," he said. "Compare your heart with mine, mine is perfect and yours is a mess of scars and tears."

"Yes", said the old man,"yours is perfect looking but I would never trade with you. You see, every scar represents a person to whom I have given my love-I tear out a piece of my heart and give it to them, and often they give me a piece of their heart which fits into the empty place in my heart, but because the pieces aren't exact, I have some rough edges, which I cherish, because they remind me of the love we shared.

Sometimes I have given pieces of my heart away, and the other person hasn't returned a piece of his heart to me. These are the empty gouges--giving love is taking a chance.

Pt2-

Although these gouges are painful, they stay open, reminding me of the love I have for these people too, and I hope someday they may return and fill the space I have waiting. So now do you see what true beauty is?"

The young man stood silently with tears running down his cheeks. He walked up to the old man, reached into his perfect young and beautiful heart, and ripped a piece out. He offered it to the old man with trembling hands.

The old man took his offering, placed it in his heart and then took a piece from his old scarred heart and placed it in the wound in the young man's heart.

It fit, but not perfectly, as there were some jagged edges. The young man looked at his heart, not perfect anymore but more beautiful than ever, since love from the old man's heart flowed in his.
The embraced and walked away side by side.

What a perfect analogy - I can really identify as I have a very large missing piece of cardiac muscle myself and desparate for remedial surgery!

Can I also say this site (discovered it around 4 weeks ago) is a real lifeline to me and makes me feel part of a community with all the same emotions and pain I have - no longer alone with my friends across the pond (I am English)

Regards

My heart is jagged, it may have been stomped and crushed, but it's still filled with a lot of love. A lot of love to give, along with those jagged edges, missing pieces, including a void to be filled.

Every day i manage to give pieces away, and w/o asking, in some ways, including mysterious ways, love is returned. Thank God.

Welcome NewBrit-- giant wave & hugs from across my side of the Canadian pond!

I am very sorry that you too, have to be here&your sad heart state of affairs! Indeed, this is a wonderful community-- you have leaped into marvelous hands, your heart will mend here!

Delighted to know you enjoyed the story! I certainly was so moved coming across it, felt instant soothing relief! Many of my children friends have read it, broken down cried at my kitchen table, requested copies, while dispensing hugs.

I was surprised at the depth of reaction from several of the young men (15 to 24 yrs) who were over. Moved to tears, adding tremendous insight- making the connection, feeling like they themselves were the old man& while their own fathers were much like the young man! <img border="0" alt="[Teary]" title="" src="graemlins/teary.gif" />

Broken hearts knows no age barrier!

Hope you feel better soon!!! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />

Cheers!

Stephan---- God does work in mysterious ways---

My favorite part " since love from the old man's heart flowed in his."

He refills us, renews us, puts HIS brand new heart& spirit into us--- Thank GOD HE does that for us& has enough of HIS LOVE for each & everyone one us! Thank GOD HE FLOWS!

"They embraced and walked away side by side."

The real friendship& connection God desires with each one of us! I marvel at that!!!

Hope you have a chance to read "lost husband" post on Classic Prayer! That say it all too!

We are going to all get better& our patchwork hearts! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />