This last week I was told a true story.  It touched me deeply ant I would like to pass it on to you.

"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," said the boy.

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.

After the operation, 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. . . . . . . . . . . . "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?"

And, he heard an answer, "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 with them and many more."

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 whom was lost."

The surgeon wept.. 

Later, 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,”and I am so happy I did for I had forgotten Him and only today realized how much I had missed Him.”

Shall we pray?

Our heavenly Father, hallowed be thy name.  Jesus, our Christ in teaching us to pray, has instructed us that our first request in prayer is for Your Kingdom to come and Your will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.  

Dear Lord, this last phrase is probably the most difficult thing many of us can do.  We are in an age of a new world wide war and a home land that has become full of violence and false witness.  Daily, our earthly body hears the temptation of the evil one telling us to ask you not to do your will but rather ours. 

We beseech you to give us the strength and courage not to listen to that temptation, but rather to ask you, and to mean it, for YOUR will to be done.

We ask this of you in Christ’s name.