The Old Violin.

In Church for the Homily the priest said this poem which reminds us that in God's Hands we are a precious valued creation no matter how broken we may seem. I loved it. I also had to got o Mass last night instead of today like I prefer as my hubby and the 24 YR  old had their Dungeons & Dragons game tonight and I'm just an afterthought.

'Twas battered and scarred,
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,
"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 and bruised with hardship
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

There was also a really new baby at Church, a week old at most, with his really young parents, 20 at the oldest and I'd forgotten how small  they are at first, yet NOT so small when their big heads have to squeeze out of such a small hole coming out during birth (ouch!!) and yet in 16 more years he'll likely be over 6 feet tall and eating everything in the fridge; they grow so fast,  and it was so touching to see the young father being so loving and gentle with his newborn son, lovingly holding him against his chest and stroking his hair, and an old lady sitting behind them slipped them a 20$ bill saying, This is for the baby" too which was a kind gesture and what Christianity is supposed to be all about and it was heartwarming to see. I felt a bit uneasy going to Mass the first time after the new Zealand mosque shooting too, wary of an increased attack of places of worship, but I also figure you don't die until it's your time and what better place to die than the House of God?

This also made me think of my hubby and the way he treats me.I know I deserve better. I know I'm no "prize" but I'm a still a human being and I still deserve to be treated with love, kindness and respect and not abuse, scorn, insults, put-downs, constant snide remarks,bullying,etc. I still deserve someone who loves me and cherishes me. He was mocking my poor hearing the other day too and encouraging the kids in it too and I told him This is exactly why I hate you! You're an asshole! You're just a mean person and the human equivalant of a migraine, Cholera, Malaria, and hemmoroids all in one! Luckily for me he's in Toronto for 3 days this week for work so I get a break. This also means not only 3 days away from his shit but also a feeling of freedom that goes with it, incl. being able to blast my music as loud as I want and being able to leave my blanket on the couch,etc. The 24 YR old also got a job at the grocery store where the girls work part-time,too!