I once knew a man who was lonely and sad.

It was not a lack of money that made life so bad.

It was something that alas money cannot buy

That made him so blue and here is the reason why.

He was rich in all the things of the world today

But he was spiritually poor.  It was the price of love he feared to pay.

He had no wife, no children and no life in spite of all his wealth.

He feared heartbreak so he lacked adequate spiritual health.

Because this man could not love for fear of being hurt

He never knew what the joy of true love was worth.

He lived his life behind a wall built tall and strong

And it was for this reason he would never know his life was lived wrong.

If only he could make himself take a chance by loving another

He may have a wife or feel closer to sister and brother.

But the possibility of hurt made him bound his heart in loneliness.

He dared not know God, Jesus Christ or holiness.

I tell you my friend love can cause one great pain.

It can create hurt feelings and even great distain.

But if you are brave enough to take a chance and let yourself care

For every pain that you may feel there will be many blessings to share.

Break down that wall and reach out to others with compassion

You will find that the joy of life is living it with passion.

Don’t be afraid of the pain of hurt and heartbreak.

For an empty heart is much more likely to ache.