Life experience is what
defines our character, even if it means getting
our heart broken or being lied to. We know that
we need the downs to appreciate the ups. Going
on the adventure or taking that risk is
important.
I have learned
through the years that a
grateful heart is a beginning of greatness; an
expression of
humility; and a foundation for the
development of such virtues as prayer, faith,
courage, contentment, happiness, love, and
well-being.
Here’s an inspiring tale of two hearts, which
one is yours?
As the story goes, one day a young man was standing in the middle
of the town proclaiming that he had the most
beautiful heart in the whole valley. A large
crowd gathered and they all admired his heart
for it was perfect.
There was not a mark nor a flaw in it. Yes, they
all agreed it truly was the most beautiful
heart they had ever seen. The young man was very
proud and boasted more loudly about his
beautiful heart.
Suddenly, an old man appeared at the front of
the crowd and said, "Why your heart is not
nearly as beautiful as mine." The crowd and the
young man looked at the old man's heart. It was
beating strongly ... but full of scars.
It had places where pieces had been removed
and other pieces put in ... but they didn't fit
quite right and there were several jagged edges.
In fact, in some places there were deep
scratches where whole pieces were missing. The
people starred ... how could he say his heart is
more beautiful, they thought?
The young man looked at the old man's heart
and saw its state and laughed. "You must be
joking," he said. "Compare your heart with mine
... mine is perfect and yours is a mess of scars
and tears."
"Yes," said the old man, "Yours is perfect
looking ... but I would never trade with you.
You see, every scar represents each of the
people to whom I have given my love. I tear out
a piece of my heart and give it to them and
often they give me a piece of their heart which
fits into the empty place in my heart. But
because the pieces aren't exact, I have
some rough edges, which I cherish, because they
remind me of the love we shared.
Sometimes I have given pieces of my heart away
... and the other person hasn't returned a piece
of his/her heart to me. These are the empty
gouges (scratches) ... giving love is taking a
chance. Although these gouges are painful, they
stay open, reminding me of the love I have for
these people too ... and I hope someday they may
return and fill the space. So now do you see
what true beauty is?"
The young man stood silently with tears
running down his cheeks. He walked up to the old
man, reached into his perfect young
and beautiful heart, and ripped a piece out. He
offered it to the old man with trembling hands.
The old man took his offering, placed it in his
heart and then took a piece from his old scarred
heart and placed it in the wound in the young
man's heart.
It fit, but not perfectly, as there were
some jagged edges. The young man looked at his
heart, not perfect anymore but more beautiful
than ever, since love from the old man's heart
flowed into his. They embraced and walked away
side by side.
Let us dream of tomorrow where
we can truly love from the soul, and know love
as the ultimate truth at the heart of all
creation.
By
Tim Pedrosa
Tim
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