Two Boxes

By Limin Hong

I have in my hands two boxes,
Which God gave me to hold.
He said, "Put all your sorrows in the black box,
And all your joys in the gold."


I heeded His words, and in the two boxes,
Both my joys and sorrows I stored.
But though the gold became heavier each day,
The black was as light as before.


With curiosity, I opened the black,
I wanted to find out why;
And I saw in the base of the box a hole,
Which my sorrows had fallen out by.


I showed the hole to God and mused,
"I wonder where my sorrows could be!"
He smiled a gentle smile and said,
"My child, they're all here with me."


I asked God, why He gave me the boxes;
Why the gold and the black with the hole?
"My child, the gold is for you to count your blessings;
The black is for you to let go."