Tommy’s mother loved to play her piano. She played it in the morning for worship, and in the evening again for worship. Sometimes during the day when she had a few free minutes, she loved to go and play a song or two. The music uplifted her soul, and gave her peace and drew her closer to God. Tommy loved to hear his mother play. He would sing along with her, and longed to play like her one day.
When Tommy was very little he would often be found sitting at the piano, playing a few random keys here and there.
Seeing his attraction to the piano, Tommy’s mother decided to enrol him in piano lessons at the young age of five. Tommy was excited at first and eagerly looked forward to his lessons every week. However, after some time, it because tedious. As much as he tried, he could not play as nicely as his mother. And the daily practice was getting very tiring. Sometimes he just wanted to play outside with his friends. In another year or two, he was getting a little better, but as he was now in elementary school, he had to find the time to practice after his homework from school. Tommy was getting discouraged and wanting to quit. He became irritable when it came time to practice. He was getting frustrated when he had to go to his lessons. Oh how many other things he wanted to do rather than practice the piano day after day. One day he told his mother he wanted to quit. It was not possible for him to play like his mother. He did not want to practice any more. He wanted to play outside with his friends after his homework was done.
Tommy’s mother did not know what to do. So she went and prayed to God. Should she force him to continue practicing? Or should she honour his wishes and let him quit? Her thoughts when back to her own childhood when she was learning to play the piano. She too, had been frustrated at times. The learning seemed to go so slow. As hard as she tried, she never seemed to be able to play as well as her own mother and teacher. But her mother encouraged her to continue and today she was happy that her mother had insisted. She now prayed, asking the Lord how she can encourage Tommy to continue practicing.
After she prayed, she went on her with her day, trusting that God would direct her. Later in the afternoon, she picked up the newspaper that had been delivered to her house and she read it.
There she saw an advertisement for a piano concert by a famous pianist, who was coming into their city to play. She felt that this was an answer to her prayer. She decided to take Tommy to listen to this concert pianist as he was a much better piano player than her. Perhaps the concert would inspire him.
The day of the concert had arrived and Tommy was getting a little excited. He had never been to a concert in such a fancy concert hall. He was not sure what was going to be more exciting, sitting in the fancy seat or listening to the musician play the piano.
As evening arrived, they quietly entered the concert hall. Tommy was immediately awed by the vast size of the hall and the luxurious surroundings.
After they were seated, his mother spotted a friend in the audience a few rows ahead and decided to walk down the aisle to greet her. Mother told Tommy to sit still in his seat and wait. She would be back in a few minutes.
Tommy, had a curious and adventurous streak in his character. He was not going to sit still when there was such a fancy hall to be explored. He wanted to see all the corners of the hall that were not immediately visible to his sight. He was curious what was behind various doors, and curtains.
Seizing the opportunity to explore the wonders of the concert hall, when mother left Tommy quickly rose and started to walk around the hall. He eventually came to a door that said, “No Admittance.” This did not deter Tommy. His curiosity got the better of him and he quickly opened the door and walked through.
Soon enough the house lights dimmed and the concert was about to begin, so mother quickly returned to her seat only to discover that Tommy was not in his seat. Perhaps he went to the washroom, she told herself, and will soon return to his seat.
Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights focused on the impressive Steinway piano on the stage. In horror, the mother saw her Tommy was sitting at the keyboard, innocently playing “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.” At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance. Quickly assessing the situation, he moved to the piano, and whispered in the boy’s ear, “Don’t quit. Keep playing.”
Then, leaning over, the piano master reached down with his left hand and began filling in a bass part. Soon, his right arm reached around to the other side of the child and he added a running obligato. Together, the old master and the young novice transformed a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience. The audience was so mesmerized that they could not recall what else the great master played—only the classic “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.”
After the song, Tommy was quietly escorted back to his seat. This was an experience Tommy never forgot. After this Tommy took up his piano practice with enthusiasm. He did not be told to practice any longer. He came home from school and went immediately to the piano. On his days off, he would wake up and go to the piano. He wanted to be like that master pianist one day. And his practice paid off. One day he could play the piano as well as, if not better than, his mother and he could play to her in her old age and comfort her. She was just as enthralled at his playing for her as Tommy had been enthralled at her playing when he was a little boy.
That’s the way it is with God. Sometimes we try and what we are doing seems hardly noteworthy. We try our best, but the results are not exactly what we expect. It seems that to others the work is so natural but for us, it seems to tedious. However, with the hand of the Master to help us, our life’s work truly can be beautiful. Next time you get discouraged and think your work is not worth anything, listen to the voice of God, whispering in your ear, “Don’t quit. Keep playing.”
Feel His loving arms around you. Know that His strong hands are there helping you turn your feeble attempts into true masterpieces. God does not call those who are perfect but He helps those who are willing and the result can be perfect. He will always be there to love and guide you on your Christian journey. Sometimes the Christian life can be tedious, Sometimes people want to give up. However, we need to have the Master with us to help us and encourage us to continue. He never forces us to practice or forces us to live for Him. He only helps and encourages us and has promised never to leave us or forsake us. So do not get discouraged. The Master will always be with you to help you. Just keep on playing, and He will play right along with you, adding beautiful harmony to your simple life.
After they were seated, his mother spotted a friend in the audience a few rows ahead and decided to walk down the aisle to greet her. Mother told Tommy to sit still in his seat and wait. She would be back in a few minutes.
Tommy, had a curious and adventurous streak in his character. He was not going to sit still when there was such a fancy hall to be explored. He wanted to see all the corners of the hall that were not immediately visible to his sight. He was curious what was behind various doors, and curtains.
Seizing the opportunity to explore the wonders of the concert hall, when mother left Tommy quickly rose and started to walk around the hall. He eventually came to a door that said, “No Admittance.” This did not deter Tommy. His curiosity got the better of him and he quickly opened the door and walked through.
Soon enough the house lights dimmed and the concert was about to begin, so mother quickly returned to her seat only to discover that Tommy was not in his seat. Perhaps he went to the washroom, she told herself, and will soon return to his seat.
Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights focused on the impressive Steinway piano on the stage. In horror, the mother saw her Tommy was sitting at the keyboard, innocently playing “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.” At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance. Quickly assessing the situation, he moved to the piano, and whispered in the boy’s ear, “Don’t quit. Keep playing.”
Then, leaning over, the piano master reached down with his left hand and began filling in a bass part. Soon, his right arm reached around to the other side of the child and he added a running obligato. Together, the old master and the young novice transformed a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience. The audience was so mesmerized that they could not recall what else the great master played—only the classic “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.”
After the song, Tommy was quietly escorted back to his seat. This was an experience Tommy never forgot. After this Tommy took up his piano practice with enthusiasm. He did not need to be told to practice any longer. He came home from school and went immediately to the piano. On his days off, he would wake up and go to the piano. He wanted to be like that master pianist one day. And his practice paid off. One day he could play the piano as well as, if not better than, his mother and he could play to her in her old age and comfort her. She was just as enthralled at his playing for her as Tommy had been enthralled at her playing when he was a little boy.
That’s the way it is with God. Sometimes we try and what we are doing seems hardly noteworthy. We try our best, but the results are not exactly what we expect. It seems that to others the work is so natural but for us, it seems to tedious. However, with the hand of the Master to help us, our life’s work truly can be beautiful. Next time you get discouraged and think your work is not worth anything, listen to the voice of God, whispering in your ear, “Don’t quit. Keep playing.”
Feel His loving arms around you. Know that His strong hands are there helping you turn your feeble attempts into true masterpieces. God does not call those who are perfect but He helps those who are willing and the result can be perfect. He will always be there to love and guide you on your Christian journey. Sometimes the Christian life can be tedious, Sometimes people want to give up. However, we need to have the Master with us to help us and encourage us to continue. He never forces us to practice or forces us to live for Him. He only helps and encourages us and has promised never to leave us or forsake us. So do not get discouraged. The Master will always be with you to help you. Just keep on playing, and He will play right along with you, adding beautiful harmony to your simple life.