when things don’t seem to go as planned…

when things don’t seem 

to go as planned

He says be still-

it’s in My hand

listen all around

as He orchestrates the sound

the muted tones

crescendo sweetly

as He sings

joy over me

His never ending grace, it is profound-

so profound…

For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.  Zephaniah 3:17

When my girls got of age to play an instrument, I felt a twinge of sadness that they didn’t want to learn to play the piano. When I was a kid, that’s all I ever wanted to do. Deep down, I have a secret desire to live vicariously through my children. But alas, they just weren’t interested, and I want them to discover the joy in making music because they love it- not because I made them do it.  So I told them that they BOTH had to learn to play SOME kind of instrument since I know that they have the aptitude to excel in music.

And much to my delight, my oldest has been playing flute for the third year in a row, and my youngest began the clarinet 3 months ago.  I never knew how wonderful it would be to have a house full of different sounds!  And the greatest part? They are self-starters-  teaching themselves and learning music all on their own- just like I did with the piano!

It wasn’t until I released my own desires for them that I began to see my girls blossom and march to the beat of their own drum. It is a little loud and chaotic at times, but I love hearing them practice.  They sometimes play at the same time- different instruments, different songs… but the house is ALIVE when I hear them making sweet music!

My oldest, hiding as she plays the flute…

The other day, I bought cream sodas- you know, the ones in the glass bottle?  The fancy ones?  My youngest was under the weather and asked for these while we were in the store.  Well, we only live once, right? So, fancy cream sodas it was for my girl!

After dinner, my hubby and I were downstairs and I heard a curious sound coming from the kitchen.  I had to see what this peculiar noise was. It definitely was not a clarinet, nor was it a flute…

“Mom!  Look- playing flute has really played off!” my oldest one says with glee as she blows across the top of the cream soda bottle.  She and her sister were making different pitches with the bottles and blowing across the tops to make “music”.

And to think of all the times I worried that they wouldn’t love music the way I did… not only do they love music, but they are expressing themselves through it in ways I never would have imagined!

yet not my will, but Yours be done…

Luke 22:42

One of these days I’m going to learn- when I surrender my dreams and desires to Him – even the ones I have for my own children-

His plans are always far better than mine could ever be!

Many, LORD my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us.  Psalm 40:5

My girls the night of their recent band concert