Tom and I have learned a lot about helping our children progress musically as they've taken lessons. For Julie, our parent-oriented child, the whole "go practice piano for 30 minutes" approach proved to be a long time to go it alone without interaction. She knew what she was supposed to do but would rather hear it again from a living, breathing human than sit in the room alone with just a piano. Nick wants an audience to hear what he's learning by ear. He can easily fill 20-30 minutes with bits and pieces of songs he's heard and likes. What he needs to practice is reading new music. Both had to learn that "faster" and "louder" are rarely better. Both thought they practiced longer than they did to be better than they were in less time than possible. Julie was a star piano student and Nick is progressing lightning fast on the saxophone and the guitar, but we needed a daily practice plan that wouldn't kill their love of music while helping them accomplish their teachers' goals for them. Tom creatively suggested to Julie: "Forget the clock. You can stop practicing when you can play this section of this song and that section of that song. When you think you've got it, we'll come hear you and see what we think." For Nick, it's been "Play what you want to play by ear for as long as you want to and we'll listen, but we're going to put some new music in front of you each day to help you practice sight reading new music." All of these are wise, tailor-made, bite-sized goals accompanied by the promise of our presence, help and evaluation.
As parents we often sign our children up for activities without realizing how active we'll need to be to help them succeed. God never makes that mistake. God the Father doesn't have a clock or timer when it comes to guiding us through the spiritual lessons He's teaching us. He doesn't drop us off or sit wait in the car while we learn. He's incredibly patient in teaching us the next part of our song. He inspires us to fulfill His gift of creativity but He also helps us focus on the discipline of learning difficult passes. He hears our efforts to please Him and hears the squeaks, the missed notes, the rushing, the endless space between the last note and the one we're trying to find as a masterpiece in progress. He doesn't shame us over our errors but fills us with joy in His Presence. I can forget how it sounds to other people when I'm keeping perfect time with Him because my "Different Drummer" is also my Audience of One.
Father, You've composed a beautiful song for me to live out for You alone. Living Your music is what brings You glory and spreads Your glory for others to respond. Thank You for letting us be co-dependent on You as we learn how to use the gifts and talents You've given us. May we use them today to bless You, our Audience of One!
In the name of Jesus, Whisperer of the Melody playing in our hearts!
"There's within my heart a melody, Jesus whispers sweet and low,
'Fear not, I am with thee, peace, be still'
In all of life's ebb and flow.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus -
Sweetest name I know.
Fills my every longing
Keeps me singing as I go!"
"Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame." Psalm 34:5
"God made Him who had not sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:21
"And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." 2 Corinthians 3:18
"Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." Galatians 5:25
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