The Touch of the Master's Hand

I'm sure some of you have probably already heard it and are probably quite familiar with this poem but I love it so much and I really wanted to share it! :)

Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer

Thought it scarcely worth his while 

To waste much time on the old violin, 

But held it up with a smile: 

“What am I bidden, good folks,” he cried, 

“Who’ll start the bidding for me?” 

“A dollar, a dollar”; then, “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; 

Then, wiping the dust from the old violin, 

And tightening the loose strings, 

He played a melody pure and sweet 

As a caroling angel sings. 

The music ceased, and the auctioneer, 

With a voice that was quiet and low, 

Said, “What am I bid 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, 

And 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 a 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 old violin. 

A “mess of pottage,” a glass of wine, 

A game—and he travels on. 

He’s “going” once, and “going” twice, 

He’s “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’s wrought 

By the touch of the Master’s hand. 

We are so blessed for the opportunity that we have to take advantage of our Savior's Atonement. He has suffered the pains of the world so that we can be cleansed from all sorrow. We may be 'battered and scarred with sin' and feel as though we are hardly worth a dime but with the aid of our Savior we have the opportunity to change ourselves into the priceless instrument in His hands that He would have us be. What changes our worth?

The Touch of the Master's Hand.

Love, Sister Petersen