“Your God is present among you, a strong Warrior there to save you. Happy to have you back, he’ll calm you with his love and delight you with his songs. Do you ever say “I wish I could do that!” Zephaniah 3:17 (MSG)
Do the “what if’s?” of life invade your thoughts? Do you ever say “I wish I could do that!”
Be encouraged and use my small part-time job as a visual at the “Piano Bench.”
I’ve been so privileged to have the wonderful opportunity to teach piano lessons for more than 30 years. The teaching books (publishers) and students’ names have changed over the years but the music skills are the same. Each year there is a new list of songs to play (Yes! Many thanks to Disney, especially FROZEN and Let It Go!) But the traditional classics stay the same.
Every time I have a piano lesson I’m very aware of the Lord’s hand in my life.
After teaching so many years I can honestly say I still love everything about teaching. The age of the student doesn’t matter and neither does the skill level. Every lesson is an opportunity for the student and myself to learn from God.
You may be wondering how? Jayme, in what ways do you see the Lord’s hand?
Let me explain.
At some point, every beginner or intermediate piano player gets bored with the easy playing songs and learning more new concepts. They just want to be able to play more advanced music. That’s a very normal feeling to experience. The same thing can be said for Dancers. Dancers must first spend long hours at the Ballet bar to learn their correct technique before they can go to the center for the “cool dance combinations” that everyone loves.
Over the years I’ve learned how easy it is for me to sit on the piano bench with my students and add in a few chords, and a little background accompaniment to add to their song. The students main theme is still the focus. I’m just adding and filling up the empty musical space.
Usually, the parents run into the room with all smiles and love to hear their kiddos playing the fun musical duet. The applause follows the last note and before you know it, everyone is talking about how much fun that was and how they can’t wait to play like that on their own one day.
Just like my piano students lessons, you and I can get bored with life.
Maybe you’ve been thinking no one really cares about you or notices you. It could be you are totally bored with your life, church, school or where you are right now as you are reading this.
Statistics state that many of us are bored with life and feel like God has forgotten us and stuck us on a shelf or in this case the “piano bench.”
Here’s the truth and the good news.
God see you and sees your potential.
God created you and He would love to be invited to sit on the piano bench and play a gorgeous duet with you.
You don’t need to do life alone.
When God is invited to play a duet with you, I’ve learned from my experience, the transformation can be amazing.
God created you with talents and gifts. Whether you are playing Fur Elise or little old “Chopsticks”, God is available and able to transform your broken pieces into something beautiful.
So be encouraged today and everyday!
Make room for God on the piano bench and KEEP PLAYING!
For a great inspiration click on the song “Something Beautiful” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fv6foJHaxLg
