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."
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 bedrest.
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