Take Time....... to LOVE!
I found this poem in"Splashes of Joy in the the cesspool of life" by Barbara Johnson. It's is an oldie which I have read many times and it still manages to bring a tear to my eyes.
The Old Violin
'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-now 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 grey - haired man
Came forward and picked up the bow;
Then wiping the dust from the old violin,
And tightening up all the strings,
He played a melody pure and sweet,
As sweet as an 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 up the bow,
"A thousand dollars- who'll make it two?
Two thousand - and who'll make it three?
Three thousand once and three thousand twice -
And going and gone, " said he.
The people cheered and some of them cried,
"We do not understand -
What changed its worth ?" The man replied:
"The touch of a master's hand.
And many a man with a life out of tune,
And battered and torn with sin,
Is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd,
Much like the old violin.......
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 5
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
And no matter how battered and old, the "Master" is not finished yet.
