"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 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