Copyright © Field Lily Press
Design by Dzignine

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Stepping up....Stepping down

One day after a worship set that included a talented violinist my then 3 year old daughter Bethany picks up a white hanger off of the bed, crooks her arm and proceeds to use the hangar as a violin bow. "Look Mommy, I'm playing the violin like David." A year later.... "Momma, I want to play the violin!" Bethany, age 4. "Mommy, I want to play violin." Bethany, age 5. "Momma, when can I play the violin?" Bethany, age 6, 7, and 8. 'The first language I want to learn is Italian!" Bethany, age 8 1/2. "Mom, I want to take piano lessons." Now that I can do! Conversation with my own Mom when she randomly asks, "What I want to know is when are you going to teach that girl piano?" Perhaps I've been running from a portion of my destiny to teach my own child piano (a potential patience stretcher if there ever was one,) or perhaps I've been running from the nearly eternal strains of "stepping up, stepping down, then a skip" in every imaginable octave; the likes of which are being heard throughout the house as I write. Of course, on her own now she's skipping to lesson 2 where she plays in other keys. That's not supposed to be happening for 7 days now. Who shall save me from this amazing, wonderful memory....the beginning before violin? I think this day, our first day of piano lessons, is like one penny in a huge bank. A penny is a beginning, a penny is a deposit. Destiny is a bank and we daily deposit actions and obediences (yes Lord, I'll teach her piano)....kind of like stepping up, stepping down, then stepping back in awe as we wonder what the Lord has begun!!!

7 comments:

B said...

I'm thankful my kid didn't want to learn piano, because I definately would not have had the patience to teach her. She's too much like - wants to do everything her own way, instead of the way she's instructed. I don't even have patience to teach myself stuff on the piano, as evidenced by the fact that it took me five, count 'em, FIVE years to learn to play a song that I knew I wanted to learn the very first time I ever heard it. So, I thank God that she wanted to play the flute and someone who is not me could teach her! :-) Have a great week. Brenda

Kathy said...

The instruction book I'm using says to be kind and patient as I teach. Hmm. Nothing like a gentle reminder. It is hard to teach someone something that comes naturally to oneself, I think. It's the thing that reminds me (one of many) how much I need the Lord's help in my daily affairs. :)

Brenda said...

oh the joys of piano lessons. I took piano from K-3rd grade. Now I play, or used to play by ear. I do wish I would've taken lessons longer and learned how to read music better.

Susan said...

What a sweet post. I begged my parents for a piano for years. When I finally got one and took lessons for 6 years I loved it. I never had to be made to practice. Instead it was my mother saying, "Susan, p-l-e-a-s-e get off the piano!"
Susan

Frasypoo said...

Hi kathy
I always wanted to learn to play the violin but now realise I may not have been into it for long!
Wisdom of parents has shown in this case

Nancy said...

Both of my kids decided to play guitar and do very well. No help from me!

Elizabeth said...

I think it is great that you are teaching her piano! That's one lucky girl:)