|  
             You'll find Jesus!  
            "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." 
             
           |