Two Boxes

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

      I heeded His words, and in the two boxes
      Both my joys and sorrows I store
      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 aloud,
      "I wonder where my sorrows could be."
      He smiled a gentle smile at me.
      "My child, they're all here with me."

      I asked, "God, why give 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."