Sometimes, when we least expect it, God grants us a blessing so profound, it changes our lives. I received such a blessing when I met a dear friend, who shared with me her gift of music.
I came to Dianne’s cabin in the woods because she was my son’s piano teacher. She thought I should take lessons as well. Although I protested that I could not read music, and that I was ‘too old’ for music lessons, Dianne thought I should give it a try. She thought it would be fun for my son and I to play a duet together.
Dianne, at seventy-something years of age was one of those ‘forever young’ kind of people. Even with health issues, she carried on famously. She had a musical laugh and when she laughed, you had to laugh too.
She sang in a singing group, and performed with that group in shows. The shows were great and I enjoyed every one I attended. But Dianne’s real passion was the piano, and her enthusiasm for it simply spilled over into every aspect of her life.
I had a small glimmer of hope because Dianne had taught her husband, Ron, to play the piano when he had settled into retirement. Needless to say, he played very well. Dianne always reminded me that Ron practiced every day and she often shared with me what piece he was working on.
With Dianne, there was no such thing as not doing something you signed up to do. You just did it. The key to the piano was simply sitting down at the bench and playing. Practice was the main ingredient to success.
I learned to read music in short order. I learned to play the piano as well. I am by no means an accomplished pianist, but I can play a song.
I always looked forward to my piano lesson. Truth be told, I loved Dianne and Ron’s lovely cabin in the woods. It was set on five acres and the family called it, ‘the land’. The house seemed to fit snugly into the land as if it were a natural part of the landscape. There were just towering trees reaching up to the bluest sky. This marvelous cabin had a cozy porch and a dog who always came to greet me.
Not so very long ago, my dear friend, Dianne, passed away. The lessons she taught me are without number. She was a very wise woman. She took the idea of aging gracefully and made it an art form.
Dianne was older than I am, but she showed me that age is just a number. The key to life is to celebrate your passions. And sometimes, if you ‘practice’ living your best life each and every day, you just might discover you are actually living the life of your dreams!
There is one who knows us best and loves us best. When we give our dreams to God, we know they are in safe-keeping. The One who stills the waters and the storms in this life can be trusted, both with our hearts, and our earthly days.
John 10:10 “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and that they may have life more abundantly.” These are the words of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
