Girlfriends in God - Dec. 7, 2009

December 7, 2009 

The Touch of the Master's Hand 

Sharon Jaynes

Friend To Friend 
Myra was a woman battered and scarred from severe arthritis. Her legs were held captive in a wheelchair, but her soul was forever free.  With one pencil in each crippled hand, she used the erasers to type words on her typewriter.  The joy of her efforts in typing the words outweighed the pain of creating them.

One day, when a friend was leaving Myra's home, she patted her wheelchair and said, "And I thank God for this!"  Prior to her wheelchair days, Myra's talent had been hidden like a treasure in the sand.  But after the crippling affect of arthritis confined her, the talent locked away freed her.  God used one of her most precious poems to show me our incredible worth.

The Touch of the Master's Hand

It was battered and scarred, 
And the auctioneer thought it 
Hardly worth his while 
To waste his time on the old violin, 
But he held it up with a smile. 
"What am I bid, good people," he cried, 
"Who starts the bidding for me?" 
"One dollar, one dollar, Do I hear two?" 
"Two dollars, who makes 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 the strings, 
He played a melody, pure and sweet, 
As sweet as the angel sings. 
The music ceased and the auctioneer 
With a voice that was quiet low, 
Said, "What now am I bid for this old violin?" 
As he held it aloft with its' bow. 
"One thousand, one thousand, Do I hear two?" 
"Two thousand, who makes it three?" 
"Three thousand once, three thousand twice, 
Going and gone," said he. 
The audience cheered, 
But some of them cried, 
"We just don't understand." 
"What changed its' worth? 
Swift came the reply 
"The Touch of the Master's Hand." 
And many a man with life out of tune, 
All battered with bourbon and gin, 
Is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd 
Much like that old violin. 
A mess of pottage, a glass of wine 
A game and he travels on. 
He is gong once, he is going twice, 
He is 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 is wrought 
By the Touch of the Master's Hand 
-Myra Brooks Welch

Let's Pray 
Heavenly Father, my Creator, my life is much like that old violin.  It may not look like much to most, but because of the touch of the Master's hands, I have great worth.  Thank You for touching my life.  Please use my hands today to give others a special touch from You.

In Jesus' Name, 
Amen

Now It's Your Turn 
Go back and read the words to Myra's song.  How is your life much like the old violin?

Have you ever looked at another person and viewed them as worn out, broken or worthless?  Be honest.

What would God say about such a person?

Perhaps you know someone who feels worthless.  Today, consider speaking a word of encouragement to let them know just how precious they are to God.

I'd love to know what you think of Myra's poem.  Let's chat www.facebook.com/sharonjaynes or www.sharonjaynes.com/blog

More from the Girlfriends 
If you would like to learn more about your true worth and begin seeing yourself as God sees you - as a chosen, holy, dearly loved child of the King - then check out Sharon's book, I'm Not Good Enough…and Other Lies Women Tell Themselves.    

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