In the States Lucy and Sam took piano lessons on and off from a neighbor girl who wanted to earn a little extra money. After our move to México our kids were able to continue lessons with Tia Helen. God has been so faithful to meet this desire of our hearts that for the last two summers He has brought someone to cover for Helen when she has gone home to Canada. This summer, to our delight, He brought us 17-year-old Tia Sarah from Saskatchewan, Canada.
Juan and I don’t know anything about music. We have no opinions about the method by which our kids are instructed or how they should practice. However, as God is faithful to provide instruction, we make sure that they practice. We cannot help them when they don’t understand their assignment, nor can we discern when they are practicing incorrectly. We merely set the timer and enforce that true effort is made.
After a few weeks of instruction, I think Sarah saw the need for some motivation. She suggested that we have a little recital including the Palau kids who she is teaching as well. Our kids were very excited about this idea. Lucy and Sam had not played in front of an audience since our move to México, and Joe and Lily never had.
We set a date and Sarah helped them choose their songs. For a week they practiced with enthusiasm. The kids made invitations and they each invited two friends. We baked cookies and Lucy typed up a program. The recital was simple and sweet. Surrounded by friends and our YUGO family in the comfort of our living room, the kids each took their turn in the spotlight.
For me, one of the greatest treats of the evening was watching a life lesson click in Lucy’s mind when Sarah played the finale for the evening. All eyes and ears were captivated as her fingers glided over the keys and made the most beautiful music. While she played I remembered her describing to Lucy and I the rigorous hours and hours of daily practice that had gone into her years of training and exams. I made eye contact with Lucy and we silently agreed that Sarah’s hard work was well worth it.
The lesson of sowing and reaping is one that seems to be woven through our daily lives, especially now that we are homeschooling. Anytime we hear, “it’s too hard”, or “it’ll take too long”, or “I’m too tired”, Juan and I plunge into the lesson of hard work and the results of reaping what you sow.
After the house cleared out, Lucy sat at the piano and didn’t get up until it was time for bed. When she kissed me goodnight she told me she was going to work hard because she wanted to play like Tia Sarah someday. Thank you Sarah for sharing your expertise with our family, and more importantly for your godly example of the benefits of hard work.
