Once I had a jar
I kept everything in there
From sea shells to pins,
And all shiny things
And, oh, for the contents, I cared.
Over the days and the years,
the jar began to get full
I needed a space,
a real special place,
somewhere for my affections to lull.
I discovered I owned something else
that soon replaced the jar
I could fit all the love
and affection and stuff
right here inside my heart.
But then a problem arose
for not everything that went in
put a smile on my face,
or a skip in my pace,
and it seemed my heart was burning.
You see, I wasn't the only one
who could add things to my heart
anyone can lean in,
with a wink or a grin
and add baggage that could smart.
At first you wouldn't guess
that they'd left anything there
but once you've let them in
they can do anything
and it really isn't fair.
I wrestled with closing my heart
and giving up collecting my blessings.
It's a free-for-all
if I don't withdraw
this privilege to those I let in...
But if I don't have a jar
where I keep all the things I love
where will I keep
my firm, steadfast belief
in a Heavenly God from above?
How will I exercise patience?
How will I think with my gut?
My own intuition
would become a pale vision,
without the guidance of love.
I guess I have a heart
with an automatic door,
where you can't control
who touches your soul
and it hurts when you have to let go.
Still, I'd never swap for a heart
that's locked under key and chain -
you can't find happiness
in loneliness
and you'd never love again.
