TOUCH OF THE MASTER'S HAND


















 Image from the internet -
here's the link to the song based on this poem.

Thanks Doris for the idea from your blog post on this topic!

'twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer thought it scarcely worth his while to waste much time on the old violin, but held it up with a smile; "What am I bidden, good folks," he cried,"Who'll start the bidding for me?" "A dollar, a dollar"; then two!" "Only two? Two dollars, and who'll make it three? Three dollars, once; three dollars twice; going for three.." But no, from the room, far back, a gray-haired man came forward and picked up the bow; Then, wiping the dust from the old violin, and tightening the loose strings, he played a melody pure and sweet as caroling angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer, with a voice that was quiet and low, said; "What am I bid for the old violin?" And he held it up with the bow. A thousand dollars, and who'll make it two? Two thousand! And who'll make it three? Three thousand, once, three thousand, twice, and going and gone," said he. The people cheered, but some of them cried, "We do not quite understand what changed its worth." Swift came the reply: "The touch of a master's hand."

And many a man with life out of tune, and battered and scarred with sin, is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd, much like the old violin, A "mess of pottage," a glass of wine; a game - and he travels on. "He is going" once, and "going twice, He's going and almost gone." But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd never can quite understand the worth of a soul and the change that's wrought by the touch of the Master's hand.

Myra 'Brooks' Welch

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Karin that was so beautiful. I am going to find the Finding Purpose Beyond our Pain to read. Dealing with so rough things with one of our children. I just love the idea of your making hats for the nursing home. It is a fun thing. There were sure some beautiful and some wild ones there yesterday. One of our daughters went, we stayed home and boy am I glad. She said it was a mess and leaving the crowd was messy and mean and fighting and she got knocked down since she is so tiny and just passed out. Thanks for visiting.
QMM

Doris Sturm said...

This is so beautiful and oh, so true! We are all worth our weight in gold - if we can only realize it - because all of us were made by the Master and he makes no mistakes.

Much love,
Doris :-)

Ruth's Photo Blog said...

I love that poem.It speaks so well of each of us,we truly are not worth much until the Master gets ahold of us.Praise Him.
Blessings,Ruth

Glenda said...

I've always loved this powerful poem! It's such an amazing word picture of the Master's love for us!
"Your touch is what I long for; You have given life to me."

Marg said...

My daughter played violin as a young girl...and that song always reminded me of how God's greatness.

Betty W said...

What a beautiful analogy. I love it! Let´s me be even more thankful.

George said...

Thanks for sharing this story with us. I've heard it before, but have always found it very moving.

Jan said...

Yes, Karin it is always a beautiful Blessing to read this story, and I don't recall seeing the illustration previously.
Have a Blessed week.