Monday, July 12, 2004

Make a Ripple - Make a Difference

Good Morning, Doves

This is a request from Starfish & Sand Dollar writer, Vance Agee.

Peggy Phillips is a 39 year-old wife and mom of three boys, who has Bronchiolitis Obliterans. She lives in my Lewiston-Ransomville WNY area, near Niagara Falls. She is being treated by the University of Pittsburg Transplant Center and will need a double lung transplant, probably this fall, but date is uncertain. She has been advised now to start fund-raising (I have been told $50K!) to help defray future medical costs. I believe that her disease started as the result of very poor living conditions in her childhood home. She is a kind, friendly, happy person. She wears her oxygen to church, and I suppose most places. Although I am on the committe (to help with P-R), which I like, I am also, of course, going to try to help with fund-raising. Please contact Vance Agee

@vgagee@aol.com for more information, as well as sharing ideas as how we can help Peggy Phillips. Those who want to help: please just make out a check to Peggy Phillips Benefit Fund and you can mail it to me: Vance Agee, 2166 Swann Road, Ransomville, NY, 14131. God bless you!

Vance

Wishing to encourage her young son's progress on the piano, a mother took her boy to a Paderewski concert. After they were seated, the mother spotted an old friend in the audience & walked down the aisle to greet her.

Seizing the opportunity to explore the wonders of the concert hall, the little boy rose & eventually explored his way through a door marked "NO ADMITTANCE."

When the house lights dimmed & the concert was about to begin, the mother returned to her seat & discovered that the child was missing. Suddenly, the curtains parted & spotlights focused on the impressive Steinway on stage.

In horror, the mother saw her little boy sitting at the keyboard, innocently picking out "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."

At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance, quickly moved to the piano, & whispered in the boy's ear, "Don't quit, Keep playing."

Then, leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand & began filling in a bass part. Soon his right arm reached around to the other side of the child, & he added a running obbligato. Together, the old master & the young novice transformed what could have been a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience.

The audience was so mesmerized that they couldn't recall what else the great master played. Only the classic, " Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."

Perhaps 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 always graceful flowing music. However, with the hand of the Master, our life's work can truly be beautiful. The next time you set out to accomplish great feats, listen carefully. You may hear the voice of the Master, whispering in your ear, "Don't quit." "Keep playing."

Author Unknown

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Blessings to you today
Bob Johnston
 

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