"The Master's Hand"

Last Friday afternoon we had an appointment with Victoria.  It's the first time I've been able to talk with her since Savannah left the hospital.  She says she has been so busy with Savannah's care and the adjustments involved that she hadn't returned our phone calls.  We drove out to Anna where she lives.  It's about 40 minutes north of Plano.  When we got there Victoria wasn't at home.  There was a nurse with Savannah.  Victoria had left and had forgotten our appt.  I explained the situation to the nurse, and told her I am Savannah's grandmother so she let us in to see her.

What a thrill to see this little miracle again.  I've missed her so much! I only got one picture of her before my battery died.  To compare her photos, here she is at 4 months and 10 months.  We took her a Teddy Bear!  She is such a cute little doll, and I'm amazed that I had the blessing of being her substitute grandma for awhile.  She'll always hold a special place in my heart. I talked with Victoria on the phone before I left.  She felt bad about the missed appointment, but was happy we saw her  precious child!

One of the young sisters we used to pick up for district meetings was transferred to Anna a couple of weeks.  She called me a few days later to tell me we have a mutual friend.  They had followed a lead in the names the previous Elders had, and stopped by Victoria's home!  This week they called to tell me Victoria & Jay are having their first discussion tomorrow evening!  I look back on the many things this little one has been through, and can definitely see "The Master's Hand" working with her and her family. Someday they will all have an even greater understanding of the miracle's that came to them because of this baby!  Please remember them in your prayers.......   

We went back to see Helena the next morning after the scare we had about her.  She's doing better. We talked with her for awhile, and then when we were ready to leave I reached down to give her a hug.  I said "I love you" to her.  She looked into my eyes and said, "You can't even imagine how much I love you!"  A sudden feeling came to me that I had known her before.  It was a beautiful moment.......

Marcia Hicken is a sweet sister we're visiting now.  We were a little nervous when we called to see if we could stop by.  They used to be very active in the church, but fell away a few years ago.  Her husband is now quite antagonistic.  He answered the phone when we called and wasn't particularly warm.  We told him we are service missionaries so he let us come.  She has lots of health problems, is thin, and walks very slowly.  She is warm with us and we enjoy her a lot.

Also, I had mentioned visiting Sis. Upshaw whose husband is a non-member.  When I saw her on Sunday at church, I told her I was pleased and surprised that her husband had come in to visit with us, and had even asked us to leave a word of prayer in their home.  She said, "I was too, he has never come in to visit with anyone from the church that visits me, or asked them to pray!"  I keep seeing these miracles on my mission.  Heavenly Father really does use us to touch the lives of those around us.

Every other week, me and, my companion take turns preparing a spiritual message to leave with some of the sisters we visit.  This past week I prepared the following.  It is the subject of this blog and a story I loved.

The Concert

"When the house lights dimmed and the concert was about to begin, the mother returned to her seat and discovered that the child was missing.  Suddenly the curtains parted and spotlights focused on the impressive Steinway on the stage.  In horror, the mother saw her little boy sitting at the keyboard innocently picking out "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star".  At that moment the great piano master made his entrance, quickly moved to the piano, and whispered in the boy's ear, "Don't stop, keep playing".  Then, leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in a bass part.  Soon his right arm reached around to the other side of the child, and he added a running obbligato.  Together, the old master and the young novice transformed what could have been a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience.  The audience was so mesmerized that they could hardly recall what else the great master played.  Only the classic, "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.

Perhaps that's the way it is with God.  What we can accomplish on our own is hardly noteworthy.  We try our best, but the results aren't always graceful flowing music.  However, with the hand of the Master, our life's work can truly be beautiful.  The next time you set out to accomplish great feats, listen carefully.  You may hear the voice of the Master whispering in your ear, "Don't quit, keep playing!"

I was reading in Joseph Smith's History 25 this week, and I thought about all the persecutions he and the pioneers went through.  I thought about how awful it must have been for him, to not only suffer physical persecutions, but also the emotional trauma as he watched the church followers lose all their earthly possessions to the mobs.  Then I read his testimony:  "I had actually seen a light, and in the midst of that light I saw two Personages, and they did in reality speak to me; and though I was hated and persecuted for saying that I had seen a vision, yet it was true; and while they were persecuting me; reviling me, and speaking all manner of evil against me falsely for so saying, I was led to say in my heart:  Why persecute me for telling the truth?  I have actually seen a vision; and who am I that I can withstand God, or why does the world think to make me deny what I have actually seen?  For I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it; at least I knew that by so doing I would offend God, and come under condemnation."

It caused me to think about the restoration of the gospel to the earth, and how Heavenly Father knew the world is filled with people who would fight against His plan.  He knew he would need the strongest of his children to face that challenge.  He chose well, but even with that, the prophet and the pioneers could not have done what they were assigned to do, without being in "The Master's Hands".  

So it is with us.......