Wishing to encourage her young son's progress on the piano, a mother
took the small boy to a Paderewski concert. After they were seated, the
mother spotted a friend in the audience and walked down the aisle to
greet her. Seizing the opportunity to explore the wonders of the concert
hall, the little boy rose and eventually explored his way through a door
marked " NO ADMITTANCE."
When the house lights dimmed and the concert was about to begin, the
mother returned to her seat and discovered that her son was missing.
Suddenly, the curtains parted and the spotlights focused on the
impressive Steinway on stage. In horror, the mother saw her little boy
sitting at the piano, 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 quit. Keep
playing." Then leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand
and began filling in a bass part. Soon his right hand reached around the
other side of the child and he added a running obbligato. Together, the
old master and the young novice transferred a frightening situation into
a wonderfully creative experience.
The audience was mesmerized.
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 exactly
graceful flowing music. With the hand of God, our life's work truly can
be beautiful.
So the next time you set out to accomplish great feats, listen carefully
and you can hear the voice of God whispering in your ear, "Don't quit.
Keep playing." Feel His loving arms around you. Know that His strong
hands are playing the concerto of your life. Remember, God doesn't call
the equipped; he equips the called. Your worst days are never so bad
that you are beyond the reach of God's grace. And your best days are
never so good that you are beyond the reach of God's grace.
