Happy Birthday Mom & Andrea!

In my office I have a violin hanging...there is a story that accompanies that violin. My mom played violin and when she was older she bought this copy of a Stradivarius violin. When my mom was in her 80's she needed quadruple by-pass surgery. I was there to help her out. Some friends of mine came to help her out and around the same time her violin, disappeared. My mom is a strong lady and tried really hard not to believe the worst. She had such a generous nature and had been taken advantage of so many times, it just seemed like it had happened again.

It was a very stressful time. My friends knew they had not taken the violin, but it could not be found. We searched everywhere. My mom was so blessed because of their help that she did not pursue it but the ache in her heart was always there. A very painful time for us all. It was a real mystery to us. A couple of years went by and my mom was cleaning in her storage area and she found it...She called me on the phone and told me. I knew that truth would come out even if it had to be in the next life. Truth won out, names were cleared. (Girls, yours is just taking longer) She had put it away to protect it. She had the strength to admit it.

It hangs on my wall as a reminder that truth will prevail. Of my mom, a special lady, who let nothing stop her from learning how to do anything (including building walls) she needed to do to be successful. She stood up against evil in high places and used laws to set boundaries and protect herself. I have thanked Heavenly Father many times for the strength he gave her. She is the one who told me her mother told her to stay close to God, no matter what. It was she who led me to personal prayer. She was the example of keeping committments to God. She reached out and helped more people than I can count.

She exemplified what President Kimballs said.. "If the Lord was meek and lowly and humble then to become humble one must do what HE did in boldly denouncing evil, bravely advancing righteous works, courageously meeting every problem, become Master of himself and the situations about him and being near oblivious to personal credit." (1963 Univ speech)

The Touch of the Master's Hand

"Twas battered and scared, and the auctioneer

Thought it scarcely worth his while

To waste much time on the old violin,

But he held it up with a smile.

"What am I bidden, good folks?" he cried,

"Who'll start bidding for me?

A dollar, a dollar - now who'll make it 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 up 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 bidden 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?" The man replied:

"The touch of the master's hand."

And many a man with life out of tune,

And battered and torn with sin,

Is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd.

Much like the old violin.

A "mess of pottage" a glass of wine,

A game and he travels on

He's 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 Welch

Happy Birthday Andrea!

"To be a righteous woman is a glorious thing in any age. To be a righteous woman during the winding up scenes on this earth, before the second coming of our Savior, is an especially noble calling.

The righteous woman's strength and influence today can be tenfold what it might be in more tranquil times...

Other institutions in society may falter and even fail, but the righteous woman can help save the home which may be the last and only sanctuary some mortals know in the midst of storm and strife.

(Spencer W. Kimball)