Success Maxims (Part 21)

Kasper & Associates maintains faith in the American spirit and we believe in the power of positive thinking.  To that end, we’ve presented Success Maxims — a collection of our favorite motivational quotes, essays and leadership advice.  (For a complete collection, e-mail your mailing address to contact@kasperassociates.com.)

SUCCESS MAXIMS

–Part 21–

“Touch of the Master’s Hand”

(Myra Brooks Welch)

‘Twas battered and scarred,

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 the bidding for me?

One 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 gray-haired man

Came forward and picked up the bow.

 

Wiping the dust from the old violin

And tightening the loose strings,

He played a melody pure and sweet

As sweet as a caroling angel sings.

 

The music ceased and the auctioneer

In 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,

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 the 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 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.