Valentine's Day

One day a Grandmother as happy as could be
Her grandchildren around her and one on her knee.

"Please tell us a story." all together they chimed
"My children I'll tell you my favorite Valentine."

She started her story with a smile on her face.
Pulling out an old heart made of paper and lace.

"I was once your age, it was Valentine's Day,
I was too sick to go out, even school or to play.

The doctor then came in to check my mom and me.
He whispered to my mom, and then, left quietly.

I questioned my mother after he said goodbye
'The look on your face is as if you're going cry.'

She looked upon me with love and tears on her face,
Not speaking she sang the song of Amazing Grace.

I quickly fell asleep with the sound of the song
Her comfort made me forget all that was so wrong

When next I awakened in a chair next to me,
Sat he pastor from our church, he was as kind as could be.

A tall dark-haired young man, with a polite kind face,
He was holding this heart made of paper and lace.

In the middle I saw that it was torn apart.
I asked, 'What has happened to your beautiful heart?'

'This Valentine has a great story.' he began.
Placing the torn red heart gently into my hand.

This heart once used to be flawless, no spot or tear,
Belonging to Jesus, love to all He will share.

Born a perfect child, into perfect man.
He was sent here from God to our desperate land.

God sent this man down here upon this earth because,
People of this world had forgotten how to love.

Their hearts were so gloomy, they were empty within.
He came here to help set people free from their sin.

Jesus healed a lame man; He made a blind man see,
He told about heaven; how to set a soul free.

He did so many things, He helped people to see,
The power of God's love if they'd only believe.

Then He and His friends went to the garden to pray,
An angry crowd found him there and led Him away.

Jesus who was perfect, in each and every way,
Felt his heart break in two as they led Him away.

The crowd sentenced Jesus made up stories and lied
Even one of his own men deserted Christ and denied.

His great love was His crime, His sentence was to die.
The crowd madly cheered His followers went to hide.

Soldiers ripped out His beard and they spit in His face.
As they whipped His bare back, He now felt a disgrace.

On His head they pushed thorns in the shape of a crown.
They taunted Him as blood started trickling down.

A heavy wooden cross He then carried up hill,
'Til weakness prevailed, He then stumbled and fell.

Soldiers hammered huge nails through His hands and His feet.
Christ cried, 'it is finished.' as He hung from that tree.

Just like the paper heart you now hold in your hand
Christ's own heart was broken, for the sin of this land.

Jesus' heart that was broken in every which way,
Was then mended when He arose on the third day.

His death on the cross was a sacrifice for sins,
So we can be sure that we'll live someday with Him.

The red heart which you hold, like the blood that was shed,
Unite the edges to show He rose from the dead.

The lace is like heaven, beautiful it will be,
Believers together will be able to see.

That is the great lesson about the heart you hold.
Anyone can accept Him both the young and the old.

Believing in Jesus, your heart can be fixed, too
Can I help you to pray this prayer here with you?'

On that Valentine's Day more than my heart was broke,
But Jesus came in and He gave me a new hope.

Doctor said I would not make it, but Jesus knew,
I had a story to share with each one of you."

She gave them each a hug, wiped a tear from her face;
She handed them the heart made of paper and lace.

She knew that her grandchildren now Christ's love understood.
"We want to say the prayer Grandma too, if we could".

"Dear Jesus, I know on the cross you died for me.
Please now wash my heart pure; Jesus help me to see.

Come into my heart and make me like brand new
Help me live a new life that reflects love of You.

Forgive me of each and every one of my sins,
Thank you my Lord Jesus, Your name I pray Amen."

This poem won first place for the February 2010 poetry contest