Welcome to Gaia! :: View User's Journal | Gaia Journals

A young man, barely over the age of 21, was proud of his hear. "Look at my perfect heart!" he'd say while walking thru the streets. The people would gaze and follow him about, looking at his flawless heart. It was without blemish, scars, and cracks. He'd parade around others, letting all see his heart. Then he came across an old man.
This old man, well into his 70's, saw the young man's heart and looked upon it in sadness. "Your heart is perfect, and flawless, but it is not beautiful."
The young man was confused and infuriated by the statement. "Who are you, to judge my heart so?! Your heart is torn, scarred and cracked" he responded hotly.
"My heart is cracked, scarred and torn, this is true. It isn’t flawless or perfect, but it is beautiful." He looked deep into the young man's eyes and continued "The pieces I've been given, and the pieces I gave, were done so with love, caring, and kindness. My heart as loved deeply, has been broken more then once, has lost some that were close, and has given freely to others in kindness. Your heart has never loved, never been shared with anyone, and has not given in kindness to another."
The crowd was silent, stunned by this old man's words. With a knot in his throat, and tears building up in his eyes, the young man held his head in shame. Looking at his heart, he tore a piece of his heart, and offered it to the old man, who gave a piece of his in return.