Don’t Stop, Keep Playing!

If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all  things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 4:11

 

The famous Polish pianist Ignacy Paderewski came to the United States on con­cert tour. There was a mother whose son was taking piano lessons. She wanted to inspire the young man so she bought tickets to the concert. Their seats were right down front where the beautiful Steinway sat. The mother turned to talk to a friend and did not notice that her son had slipped away. A hush fell over the crowd as the lights went down and the spotlight illuminated the piano. There was her little boy on the bench playing, “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.” She was horrified, but before she could move the great master stepped onto the stage. He whispered in the boy’s ear, “don’t stop, keep playing.” He put his left arm around the boy and began to play a beautiful bass part. He encircled him with his right arm and added a running scale. The crowd was mesmerized as the master played beautiful music from “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.”

 

Are you insufficient for the task God has given you? Sure you are. Do you need more wisdom and strength? Sure you do. Take courage, you are not alone. God takes your service and encircles it with “the strength which He provides” to yield God-size outcomes that bring Him glory. He can make beautiful music from your “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” acts of obedience. Keep on planting those words of life, and watering them with deeds of kindness. Then trust God to give the increase, 1 Corinthians 3:6.

 

Does the place you’re called to labor, seem so small and little known?

It is great if God is in it, and He’ll not forget His own.

Poem by Kittie L. Suffield

 

-Tim Jennings

via FOCUS magazine, April ‘07