'Would you like to buy a heart?' the young lady asked, holding up her basket of wares.

'What is the cost?' I inquired.

'Goodness, if you have always and always been good, you have just the right amount to buy one.' She said kindly.

'But how can anyone have always and always been good?' I asked in confusion. 'It's impossible!'

'Yes,' she confirmed 'impossible, unless you have a heart.'

'What is the use of a heart if you already have one?' I asked in greater confusion.

'I don't know,' she said sadly 'I have only ever sold one, to a man who has two. My wares are much needed, but I cannot give them away, because they only break in the hands of anyone less than good.'

'You have tried?' I inquired.

'Yes, but I may not any more, by order of the King.' She replied quietly

'The King?' I asked in a hushed whisper.

'Yes, do not be afraid, I and those with me are protected by Him from the men of the prince of darkness.' She reassured me.

'But what is the use of a heart, besides being good?' I asked again.

'A heart allows you to love, and only those that love the King can be stay with him. And when we are with the King we are always happy, and joyful. There will be no sadness or tears when He comes.' She said with a smile.

'What about those who can't love, like me?' I said sadly. 'Will we always cry, and be sad?'

'Well,' she said slowly. 'If someone who had always and always been good came and bought a heart, they could give it to you. But all your badness would have to be washed off you. Otherwise your heart would break, and then it would be useless.'

'Who could do that for me?' I cried urgently.

She thought for a moment. 'I know someone. But if He buys you a heart, and makes you good He will die.'

'What! No!' I worried

'And He will be hurt badly.' She continued.

'I want to be good.' I said quietly and sadly. 'I want to love.'

She sighed and smiled, and I felt a hand on my shoulder. I knew it was Him.

He said 'I will buy a heart.' And she gave one to Him. He placed His hand over the place where my heart should have been, and I felt joy and peace.

He said 'child, all you ever did wrong is set right. If your heart breaks, I will come and fix it.'

'But how will you pay for this?' I protested.

'It will be paid for in time.' He reassured me 'I know the cost, and I love you enough to pay it. Now go and tell other people about me. The heart seller will teach you more, and I will give you wisdom. Some people will hate you, and hurt you. But you must always keep on loving. This is how other people will know you belong to Me, and how they will learn about Me.'

'You love me?' I said, slightly incredulous. 'Why do you love me?'

'Because I made you.' He replied

'But our kind have always hated You, since we first chose ourselves over You.' I protested.

'I love you.' He repeated 'not because of anything you ever did, but because I want you to love Me.'

'I don't know how to love.' I said sadly.

'I will teach you, that's why I gave you a heart.' He replied calmly. 'You won't always be good all the time yet, you are only learning. But I can always fix it.'

'I don't want to be rude, but why should I keep on being good?' I wondered.

'I gave you a heart to love me, trying to be good is how I want you act out that love. Remember, only those that love the King can stay with Him.' He reminded me quietly. 'But I will always set right your wrong, because I love you. I will always forgive you.'