She stood alone in a crowded room. In her hands she clasped tightly her heart. It was bloody and wounded, bandages covering bandages, dirty now. Still clasped in her hands this pitiful thing wounded by this thing we call life. She held it tightly, not allowing anyone to see... protecting it with all her might. It had been neglected, broken, stabbed, and carelessly tossed about. No, she would never let anyone see her most prized posession. Not ever again.
He walks up to her...very kind he seems. He sees the dirty bandages dripping with blood. "What have you there," He asks. "None of your business" she says He smiles and walks away.
Now at home she stands in the kithcen staring out the window tears streaming down her face, "All I wanted was someone to love me...to care...to always be there." She steels herself. Dries her tears,unable to live she still clasps on to her bandaged heart. The most prized of all her posessions. A knock comes from the kitchen door and she quickly makes herself presentable. Opening the door she recognizes the man from the night before.
What are you doing here?
I noticed your yard...seems that everything is dying.
She peers around Him seeing the death that has has become her garden.
So why are you here? She demands.
I am a gardner you see, and I thought you may need some help. I can bring it back to life.
Yes, she responds. I've been too busy guarding my heart to accomplish the gardening that needs to done.
Would you be willing to pay me to bring back the beauty I can see was once here?
She thinks about it for a moment, and finally says yes. They settle on a price, and he begins his work.
Each day she stands at the window watching The work as it is done. Watching as fruit bearing trees, many types of flower, and lush looking bushes replace the death that was once her yard.
He knocks on the door she answers it still clasping her ragged heart.
Looks like your finished, making a feeble attempt at a smile.
Not quite He says. He looks at her and smiles with eyes that seem to pierce her soul.
What more is there to do?
He smiles and walks away never asking for his payment.
The next morning as she stands vigil at the window, clasping her broken heart. She opens her hands slightly to just take a peek. Suddenly there is a knock at the door. She once again tightens her grip on what should be her heart, and answers the door.
The yard is beautiful there is nothing left for you to do.
Oh but there is he says as reaches out to wipe her tear stained face with its hard lines and fear. I'm a handy-man as well. I will do repairs on your house.
Unsure of what to say...She agrees, and He smiles and leaves.
The next day instead of standing vigil at her window...she wanders through the house as he makes one repair after another. Leaving in his wake perfection to replace the desolation of neglect. This goes on for a few months and finally the house is complete.
As he is readying himself to leave, She says you know I never payed you for the yard, and you never asked for payment for all the reapairs you've done on my house.
Putting His tools away...He says "My dear, the price has already been paid."
She doesn't quite know what to think of that, surely there must be something she can do for this kind man. So she asks.
What can I give you in return for all you have done for me? He looks at her clasped hands, and asks, "May I please have a look?" She is frightened, No terrified, but this man has been so kind. She holds her ragged heart close and then reaches out opening her hands to give him full view. He didn't run. Only cried and as he lifted her heart from its protected place he begins to remove the old dirty bandages. The tears like medicine wash it clean. This tattered broken heart becomes a jewel of perfection. No longer neglected.
He holds out his hands with this precios jewel cupped inside. He reaches out to give it back...
Her face now radiant... all the harsh lines removed. She says no you keep it. You take much better care of it than I ever could. He goes to his truck, and she wonders is this it? Will he return. Suddenly he appears again through the door carrying an ornately beautiful hand carved box. He places it on the mantle for all to view and in it He gently places her heart, a most exquisite jewel. He turns to her, and she asks, "why have you done all this for me?"
2000 years ago I gave up my life and made a payment for you so that I could show you true love, and you could learn to love me. So that wounded hearts could be made new.
He smiled, and this time he stayed.


I Corintians 13...Love never fails.

Sasa Smith

copyright 2007 Allrights reserved

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