The Piano Recital
Growing up, I took piano lessons. Every spring I had a recital. It was a wonderful, and sometime scary anxiety producing, time to celebrate all I had worked hard on accomplishing during the year. I looked forward to my recitals. I practiced more diligently. It generally also meant getting a new dress, handmade by my mother of course. The day of the recital would come. I'd get butterflies in my stomach as I sat waiting anxiously for my few moments on stage. My parents would come, my grandparents, and sometimes other special people.
This Friday night, I had the opportunity to go to a piano recital so some young musicians. They are all students from ICSB, many of whom I have been privileged to teach and some that I will in the future.
The recital began with the reading of a Psalm and prayer thanking God for the gift of music. Then the students began. The first was a 6 year old who had just begun lessons a few months ago. She radiated with excitement as she sat behind the piano and played her song. My eyes began to fill with tears. Why tears? Why was sadness creeping into my heart at this moment? I realized that it came from sacrifice. The sacrifice of being thousands of miles away from family. I cannot attend the special events, like piano recitals or sporting events, of my niece and other extended family. I let myself feel the sadness for a moment. Then I remembered that most of these children would not have a piano recital or ball game or Christmas where they celebrated with extended family including aunts and uncles and grandmas and grandpas. Yet, I get to be here to celebrate these special events with them. I can be more than their teacher at school. I can be the "aunt" who comes to piano recitals. I can let them know they are loved. I can let them know I appreciate their hard work in practicing and performing. I can clap and rejoice over their accomplishments. These children may not be my niece or my biological family, but they are my family. They are the family I celebrate Christmas and Easter with. They are the family I attend piano recitals and ball games with.
The recital continued. One by one the students played their songs with joy, beauty and enthusiasm. I congratulated the students. I left with a heart of joy mingled with sadness as I reflected on this wonderful sacrifice I'm called to live. I am thankful to God for the provision of these people in my life. It reminds me of the goodness of our great God who "sets the lonely in families" (Psalm 68:6).
This Friday night, I had the opportunity to go to a piano recital so some young musicians. They are all students from ICSB, many of whom I have been privileged to teach and some that I will in the future.
The recital began with the reading of a Psalm and prayer thanking God for the gift of music. Then the students began. The first was a 6 year old who had just begun lessons a few months ago. She radiated with excitement as she sat behind the piano and played her song. My eyes began to fill with tears. Why tears? Why was sadness creeping into my heart at this moment? I realized that it came from sacrifice. The sacrifice of being thousands of miles away from family. I cannot attend the special events, like piano recitals or sporting events, of my niece and other extended family. I let myself feel the sadness for a moment. Then I remembered that most of these children would not have a piano recital or ball game or Christmas where they celebrated with extended family including aunts and uncles and grandmas and grandpas. Yet, I get to be here to celebrate these special events with them. I can be more than their teacher at school. I can be the "aunt" who comes to piano recitals. I can let them know they are loved. I can let them know I appreciate their hard work in practicing and performing. I can clap and rejoice over their accomplishments. These children may not be my niece or my biological family, but they are my family. They are the family I celebrate Christmas and Easter with. They are the family I attend piano recitals and ball games with.
The recital continued. One by one the students played their songs with joy, beauty and enthusiasm. I congratulated the students. I left with a heart of joy mingled with sadness as I reflected on this wonderful sacrifice I'm called to live. I am thankful to God for the provision of these people in my life. It reminds me of the goodness of our great God who "sets the lonely in families" (Psalm 68:6).
I am thankful that you are sharing your heart with so many on this "wonderful sacrifice."
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