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"The Piano" |
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A beautiful article written by: Jack Helser [email protected] Friday evening we drove about 15 miles to see the piano. A mile down a gravel road and over a hill, the old ramshakle farm house came into view. Outside we counted 5-6 kids playing - all barefoot. We were welcomed by the barefoot and pregnant mother - wearing an old denim dress - and looking like she hadn't had a full nights sleep in ages. We were greeted warmly and shown to the living room where there were 2 pianos - one she'd received from her mother, the other the one they were selling. Immediately I saw the difference between the piano, and the image in my imagination - and I was disappointed. It was not a mahogany cabinet, but oak, with a light stain. The keys were in good shape, the action good, and the tone nice for a spinte. But it had seen some nicks, wear and divets. I did not want it. Still, I could see Karen was interested, and she played a few notes and lit up. Since it's been years since she last played regularly, Karen asked the woman if she or her daughter would play for us. The daughter sat and played a beautiful rendition of "As The Deer", and I stood in utter silence as the spirit moved within me, as the song has deep personal meaning for me. Listening to the woman, I learned that they had 11 children. She was pregnant with the 12th. They attended a Baptist church, and the husband and oldest son were steel workers. I had read recently, that the steel plant (where they must work), is on the verge of bankruptcy, and at present is still negotiating with the steel workers union, and will close the plant IF there are not concessions from the union and employees. From what I've read in the paper, it doesn't look good. And so we bought a piano Friday night - for the asking price. It is not the one I had in mind at all, but we will enjoy it none the less because it is the one the Lord wants us to have. We had also been praying for the Lord to show us someone we could bless and help with our giving, as the friend with advanced MS, about whom I wrote in the Tithe article, went to be with the Lord last December. The Lord confirmed to us that we were to help them in a comical kind of way. Driving home, I said to Karen "do you have ANY idea what it must cost to keep those kids in SHOES?!? No wonder they are all barefoot". And I figured the first order of business would be a gift certificate to Walmart for enough to fit them all with shoes. At lunch Saturday we visited with family here in town. And my brother- in-law Alan said "do you have ANY idea what it costs to keep those kids in shoes?!?" God is truly amazing. We asked, and He has answered us with another opportunity to give rightly. And I find myself wondering about the prophetic significance of this. The woman has 11 kids with 1 on the way in a short time. Above her kitchen door there still hung a Mother's day banner the kids had made with a qoute from Proverbs 31 'the wife of noble character'. Will have to ponder on that for awhile! Bless you! Jack
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