a story worth reading

> > > > > > > > At the prodding of my friends, I am writing this story. > > > My name is Mildred Hondorf. I am a former elementary > > > school music teacher from Des Moines, Iowa. I've always > > > supplemented my income by teaching piano lessons- > > > something I've done for over 30 years. > > > > > > Over the years I found that children have many levels > > > of musical ability. I've never had the pleasure of having > > > a protégé though I have taught some talented students. > > > > > > However I've also had my share of what I call "musically > > > challenged" pupils. One such student was Robby. Robby > > > was 11 years old when his mother (a single mom) dropped > > > him off for his first piano lesson. I prefer that students > > > (especially boys!) begin at an earlier age, which I explained > > > to Robby. But Robby said that it had always been his > > > mother's dream to hear him play the piano. So I took him > > > as a student. Well, Robby began with his piano lessons and > > > from the beginning I thought it was a hopeless endeavor. > > > As much as Robby tried, he lacked the sense of tone and > > > basic rhythm needed to excel. But he dutifully reviewed his > > > scales and some elementary pieces that I require all my > > > students to learn. > > > > > > Over the months he tried and tried while I listened and cringed > > > and tried to encourage him. At the end of each weekly lesson > > > he'd always say, "My mom's going to hear me play some day." > > > But it seemed hopeless. > > > He just did not have any inborn ability. I only knew his mother > > > from a distance as she dropped Robby off or waited in her > > > aged car to pick him up. > > > She always waved and smiled but never stopped in. Then one > > > day Robby stopped coming to our lessons. I thought about > > > calling him but assumed because of his lack of ability, that he > > > had decided to pursue something else. I also was glad that > > > he stopped coming. He was a bad advertisement for my teaching! > > > > > > Several weeks later I mailed to the student's homes a flyer on > > > the upcoming recital. To my surprise Robby (who received a flyer) > > > asked me if he could be in the recital. I told him that the recital > > > was for current pupils and because he had dropped out he really > > > did not qualify. > > > He said that his mother had been sick and unable to take him to > > > piano lessons but he was still practicing. "Miss Hondorf . . . I've > > > just got to play!" he insisted. > > > > > > I don't know what led me to allow him to play in the recital. > > > Maybe it was his persistence or maybe it was something inside > > > of me saying that it would be all right. The night for the recital > > > came. The high school gymnasium was packed with parents, > > > friends and relatives. I put Robby up last in the program before > > > I was to come up and thank all the students and play a finishing > > > piece. I thought that any damage he would do would come > > > at the end of the program and I could always salvage his poor > > > performance through my "curtain closer." > > > > > > Well the recital went off without a hitch. The students had been > > > practicing and it showed. Then Robby came up on stage. His clothes > > > were wrinkled and his hair looked like he'd run an egg-beater > > > through it. > > > "Why didn't he dress up like the other students?" I thought. "Why > > > didn't his mother at least make him comb his hair for this special > > > night?" > > > > > > Robby pulled out the piano bench and he began. I was surprised > > > when he announced that he had chosen Mozart's Concerto #21 > > > in C Major. I was not prepared for what I heard next. His fingers > > > were light on the keys, they even danced nimbly on the ivories. > > > He went from pianissimo to fortissimo . . . from allegro to > > > virtuoso. His suspended chords that Mozart demands were > > > magnificent! Never had I heard Mozart played so well by > > > people his age. After six and a half minutes he ended in a grand > > > crescendo and everyone was on their feet in wild applause. > > > > > > Overcome and in tears I ran up on stage and put my arms around > > > Robby in joy. "I've never heard you play like that Robby! How'd > > > you do it?" > > > Through the microphone Robby explained: "Well Miss Hondorf . . > > > remember I told you my mom was sick? Well actually she had > > > cancer and passed away this morning. And well . . . . she was born > > > deaf so tonight was the first time she ever heard me play. > > > I wanted to make it special." > > > > > > There wasn't a dry eye in the house that evening. As the people > > > from Social Services led Robby from the stage to be placed into > > > foster care, I noticed that even their eyes were red and puffy > > > and I thought to myself how much richer my life had been for > > > taking Robby as my pupil. > > > > > > No, I've never had a protégé, but that night I became a > > > protégé . . of Robby's. He was the teacher and I was the > > > pupil For it is he that taught me the meaning of perseverance > > > and love and believing in yourself and maybe even taking a > > > chance in someone and you don't know why. This is especially > > > meaningful to me since serving in Desert Storm. > > > > > > Robby was killed in the senseless bombing of the Alfred P. > > > Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City in April of 1995, > > > where he was reportedly . . . . playing the piano. And now, > > > a footnote to the story. > > > > > > > > > If you are thinking about forwarding this message, you are > > > probably thinking about which people on your address list > > > aren't the "appropriate" ones to receive this type of message. > > > The person who sent this to you believes that we can all make > > > a difference. We all have thousands of opportunities a day to > > > help realize God's plan. So many seemingly trivial interactions > > > between two people present us with a choice: Do we pass > > > along a spark of the Divine? Or do we pass up that opportunity > > > and leave the world a bit colder in the process? > > > > > > You have two choices now: > > > 1. Delete this. > > > 2. Forward it to the people you care about. > > > You know the choice I made. Thank you for reading this .. > > > > > > > > > "Happy are those who find wisdom . . . She is a tree of life to > > > those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called happy." > > _____