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Themes: Value of the Word of God RHD Alice Shaw liked to whistle. She whistled while she played with her dolls. She whistled while she swung on the swing. She even whistled when she dressed in the morning.
First she whistled lullabies and children's songs to her dolls. As she got older, she learned many more songs.
Sometimes her parents would ask her to perform for visitors. Her trills, grace notes, and perfect pitch were excellent; especially for a little girl. Her parents were proud.
After some time, her constant whistling became a nuisance to her parents. It bothered them so much that they forbade her to whistle in the house. Besides, all their friends had already heard her whistle - it was old now.
Alice grew up and married. She and her husband had four daughters. It was still a delight to her to whistle. She practiced as much as she could.
Not long after the birth of their fourth daughter, her husband died. She was left with children to care for and no income. Alice wondered what she could do to earn money. Then, she thought of her talent for whistling.
Every day Alice practiced. She decided that she could perform and earn money to take care of her children. She learned a variety of new songs. She brushed up on old ones and added new variations. She mastered each song until it was no effort at all to perform it perfectly. She practiced until her cheeks and lips were sore.
Her persistence paid off. She gave her first recital at a New York charity ball in 1886. She was a sensation! Soon she had many performances scheduled. Alice Shaw became known as La Belle Siffleuse ("the beautiful whistler"). She was famous.
Alice amazed everyone with her talent. Some doctors examined her mouth and concluded she could whistle so well because she had a high, narrow roof in her mouth. Alice disagreed. She knew it was because she had practiced for hours and hours.
Little did Alice Shaw know when she was a little girl, that her hours of practice would one day be so profitable. Memorizing is hard work; so is practice - but it is worth it.
Memorize as many verses as you can while you are young. It is profitable. "And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 3:15). Memorizing Bible verses probably wont make you famous, but a verse may be used by God to bring you spiritual blessings just at the right time.
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Peter Orasuk
