Music To My Ears
From: Cyber-Daily-Devotion by Pastor Bill
Friday February 8, 2008 Volume 9 Number 29
pastorbill@hallelujah3.org
www.hallelujah3.org
”Scripture: 1Timothy 6:11b
“Pursue a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.”
NLT
This is the story of Mildred who supplemented her income by teaching piano
for over 30 years. She says she never had the pleasure of having a protégé
though she taught some talented students. However she had her share of what
she calls "musically challenged" pupils.
One such student was Robby. Robby was 11 years old when his single mom dropped
him off for his first piano lesson. Robby said that it had always been his
mother's dream to hear him play the piano. So this is their story.
Robby always began his lessons with a prayer and from the beginning I thought
it was a hopeless endeavor. As much as Robby tried, he lacked the sense of
tone and basic rhythm needed to excel. He just did not have any inborn ability.
Prayer or no prayer he just didn’t have “piano sense”.
I only knew his mother from a distance as she dropped Robby off or waited
in her aged car to pick him up. She always waved and smiled but never stopped
in. Then one day Robby stopped coming to lessons.
Several weeks later I mailed to the student's homes a flyer on the upcoming
recital. To my surprise Robby (who received a flyer) asked me if he could
be in the recital. "Miss Mildred --- I've just got to play!" he
insisted. The Holy Spirit promoted me to allow him to play in the recital
which was against my professional opinion.
The night for the recital came. The gymnasium was packed with parents, friends
and relatives. I put Robby up last in the program before I was to come up
and thank all the students and play a finishing piece.
Well the recital went off without a hitch. The students had been practicing
and it showed. Then Robby came up on stage. He said a brief prayer as usual
by bowing his head and then I was surprised when he announced that he had
chosen Mozart's Concerto #21 in C Major. I was not prepared for what I heard
next. His fingers danced nimbly on the ivories. Never had I heard Mozart played
so well by someone his age. After six and a half minutes he ended in a grand
crescendo and everyone was on their feet in wild applause.
Overcome and in tears I ran up on stage and put my arms around Robby in joy.
"I've never heard you play like that Robby! How'd you do it?" Well
Miss Mildred, remember I told you my mom was sick? Well actually she had cancer
and passed away last week. Every time I would approach a piano for practice
I would say a prayer that my mom would hear me. And well --- she was born
deaf so tonight was the first time she ever heard me play. I wanted to make
it special." There wasn't a dry eye that evening.
No, I've never had a protégé but that night I became a protégé
--- of Robby's and his prayer of hope that God so wonderfully answered. He
was the teacher and I was the pupil. For it was he that taught me the meaning
of perseverance and love and believing in yourself and taking a chance on
someone, and only the Holy Spirit knows why.”
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Great Commission Worship & Arts Center