Colossians 3:23-24 (New International Version)
23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as
working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will
receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are
serving.
Caroline, was a talented musician even as a teen-ager but
after a compliment she would always say, "Thank you, but "I play well
only because of my teacher, you should hear her, she plays like the touch of angel
wings on the strings." She was referring to Katherine who was not only her
teacher, an exceptional violinist, but also a very kind, generous, elect lady
who not only taught her music but many good things about life.
After Katherine's death it was very hard for Caroline to
put her heart into her playing. She and her parents were at a loss as to where
they could possibly find another teacher. After several weeks went by they were
surprised by a phone call from, Jason, the son of this beloved teacher. He
quietly said, "If you ever feel like you could drive, once a week, the 3
hours, to where I live, I would like to have Caroline as my student and try to
take up where my mother left off - I think she would like that."
Needless to say they gave little thought to the drive.
The important things was to begin lessons again and to have lessons from this
extraordinary young man, who was already a member of a well known symphony
orchestra, seemed like a God-send.
The young student had let her violin lay in its case for
several weeks but now music filled their home. She realized she had much
practicing ahead to make up for those weeks of letting the violin lay idle.
Saturday morning came almost to quickly and anticipation turned to
apprehension. As they turned on the street where the new teacher lived,
Caroline turned to her mother and said, "Mom, I don't think he will teach
me very long." "Oh, I don't mind waiting an hour, it will be worth
it," Joanna, her mother replied. "No, I don't mean that, I mean he
will listen to me and say, "Caroline, get a life! I don't have time for
you, I can tell you haven't been practicing." Joanna, offered the needed
encouragement and Caroline slowly walked up the sidewalk to the front door.
It took only a few minutes of visiting for Caroline to
became comfortable with the new teacher. Jason reminded her so much of his
mother. For the next 15 minutes he instructed her to play certain pieces for
him and then suggested a rest. Caroline knew she had not played as she had done
in the past and the apprehension returned. Jason, picked up her violin and
looked at it and then at her as he said, "You are a good violinist,
Caroline but you can become a great violinist, it is your choice, if you will
remember one thing, "Don't practice your mistakes." For a moment she
looked at him with surprise and wonder, he wasn't reprimanding her; he was
instructing and encouraging her just as his mother had. "Oh, alright, I
won't - not ever again," she quickly replied.
Jason smiled; he could remember those years when he was
her age and that same lesson his mother had taught him. "Don't practice
your mistakes." Those words had been a great influence in every phase of
his life, as well as the reminder, "It is your choice."
After Caroline left, he sat a few minutes alone in the
music room. His wife wondering why he hadn't come into to lunch went in search
of him. He smiled as she came through the door, "My, sweet I don't think
it will be long until we hear violin music that will sound like the whisper of
angel wings on the strings."
"How did it go," Joanna asked when Caroline got
into the car. "Mother, I know this sounds strange, but it felt just like
Katherine was there as Jason talked with me, I'll bet if she were still alive
she would have said just what Jason said as I left, "Drive carefully and
don't forget Caroline, don't practice your mistakes." Joanna reached over
and gave her daughter a warm hug.
Dear Lord we pray today that we would not practice our
mistakes. Help us do the very best in all that we do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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