Heart in a Box

He had a heart once; it was gentle and caring

It was tucked away safe, spotless at birth. 

It had no regrets, it bore no mistakes

As this child came into the world.

He thought all was well, that things were just fine

With every new day, he awoke to the sun;

Growing and learning, loving and hurting

Playful and small, just having his fun. 

Laughter and smiles, then a violent rage?

Peace would not hold for a moment.

Hitting and screaming, no smiles or singing

He tried to shut out all the noise.

Then one day they hit him and everything changed

He found the hurt too much to bear.

So he cut out his heart and locked it away 

He didn’t know which way to turn.

He numbed to it all, till he thought things were better

As he grew up one day at a time.

Then all of the sudden he met a young woman

She still had a heart he was sure. 

It wasn’t that long till they walked down the aisle 

Yet he clung to her heart, not his own

She tried every day to raise the new baby

But still he trudged on quite alone.

As children got older, he gave them cold shoulder

Before long, they wished he would go.

Screaming and shouting, retreating and crying

Fighting the pain that he’d always known.

Days, weeks and years, they prayed hope for a change

The anger and strife just got worse.

“God! Be the difference and heal all the wounds!”

Still man’s heart was under some curse.

We can learn from this story of the man and his heart -

The heart that he tried to dispose.

But it lies with the Savior, He could change the behavior

Until he find Jesus – the prison chains hold.

We pray for salvation, with no condemnation

Holding steady and true to God’s Word

Believing for life and a newness of sight

While it lies locked away – a heart in a box.

 

© Mandee Widrick, 2009