Message from Andi O'Dell, Junior High Teacher

Keep going; don’t quit…

This is a portion of the book, Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life, by Chuck Swindoll.

Paderewski, the famous composer-pianist, was scheduled to perform at a great concert hall in America. Present in the audience that evening was a mother with her fidgety nine-year-old son. Weary of waiting, he squirmed constantly in his seat. His mother was hoping the concert would encourage her son to practice the piano more.

As she turned to talk with friends, her son could not stay seated any longer. He slipped away from her side, strangely drawn to the ebony concert grand on the huge, brightly lit stage. Without much notice from the sophisticated audience, the boy sat down at the stool, staring wide-eyed at the black and white keys. He placed his small, trembling fingers in the right location and began to play “chopsticks.” The roar of the crowd was hushed as hundreds of frowning faces turned in his direction. Irritated, they began to shout:

“Get that boy away from there!”
“Who’d bring a kid that young in here?”
“Somebody stop him!”

Backstage, the master overheard the sounds out front and quickly put together in his mind what was happening. Hurriedly, he grabbed his coat and rushed toward the stage. Without one word of announcement he stooped over behind the boy, reached around both sides, and began to improvise a countermelody to harmonize with and enhance “chopsticks.” As the two of them played together, Paderewski kept whispering in the boy’s ear:
Keep going. Don’t quit, son. Keep on playing…don’t stop…don’t quit.

And so it is with us. We work on our “projects” which seem about as significant as “chopsticks” in a concert hall. And about the time we are ready to give it up. Along comes the Master, who leans over and whispers:
Now keep going; don’t quit. Keep on…don’t stop; don’t quit, as He improvises on our behalf, providing just the right touch at just the right moment.

Therefore…be steadfast, immovable…your toil is not in vain in the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58).

May we all feel God’s “right touch” at just the right moment!