Stripling Warriors' Mom: Right place at right time--Divine intervention

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Tender Mercies

Every now and again there are some very sweet occurrences that I call Tender Mercies.

It is a time when it feels like divine intervention has taken place. A lot of times it is being at the right place at the right time.

I went for a walk the other day and decided to go a different way. Walking through the ward was nice. The breeze was just right, it was still in the cool of the morning.

My walk took me over to the condos that part of the ward. My visiting teaching companion lives on that side of the ward. So, with that in mind, I also remembered there is a code for the privacy gate to keep out intruders with a gate to key punch to gain access to the area there.

The closer I got to the gate, it was obvious I couldn't remember the key pad number. Then just as I was walking up to the gates, someone who lives in one of those town home apartments was backing out in her car. She punched the key pad with the right numbers and bingo there I was on the other side of the entrance behind her vehicle. I was silently grateful for the tender mercy and knew I must have done something right today.

Whew, I am glad someone was there to open the gates. It made my day.

This may not be a big deal to anyone else, nevertheless it was to me since the alternative would have made it so that I had to walk around and back track where I started from. I can only think that perhaps my Angels were working nearby.

Power to Act in God's Name

I believe and know very strongly that, " A man, young or old never stands taller than when he is doing his priesthood duties or responsibilities. Be it station as a Deacon, Teacher, Priest, Elder, High Priest, Home teacher, priesthood holder husband, father, son or grandfather, Bishop, or Prophet of God. He has a mantle about him that emanates and gives him the authority to act in God's name, and uses it in righteousness. It is a blessing to him and his family. To this I know that he raises the bar in doing his duty to God and his fellow man.”

" I stand in awe of the goodness that pervades within that soul who honors and lives up to his priesthood calling with a pure heart. It is evident to me and cannot be hidden. I believe that quality shines in their countenances and His image is radiated in their face's.

Insights by Anna 11.22.09

Touch of The Master's Hand

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,
" It was battered and scarred,
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 gray bearded 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 and 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 Masters 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 going 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 Masters' Hand.

Myra Brooks Welch