Diamond and me...

Every Wednesday afternoon I drive to our church in town to meet Diamond for our piano lesson. She is a bright eyed, bubbly nine year old girl with a passion for music who pestered me until I agreed to teach her piano. Her enthusiasm is infectious and we have such fun sitting side by side on the piano bench as we learn together.
This Sunday we will play a duet for the offertory, Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly. Originally scheduled for an Advent worship, a heavy snowfall cancelled church so we are a little late in schedule but right on time for Diamond. At the end of worship, we will sing the jazzy version of “Amen” and Diamond asked to play the African drum along with the piano. We practiced getting the beat and she is ready to roll. Her little sister Angel wants to play along on the other drum so we will have two drummer girls for that song. What fun!
As I sit by Diamond, I time travel. Fifty years ago another little girl sat by her teacher enthralled, entranced by the world of music in the piano. The pianist at our church welcomed me into the world of sacred music and gave me a place to share my love for God through the piano. She taught me her tricks of the trade and gave me room to grow by sharing her seat on the piano bench. And now, it is time for me to pass on what was given to me all those years ago. It is pure joy to be able to give Diamond this gift.
Diamond is talented and has that ineffable “feel” for music that is not learned but innate. I can give her a good foundation in the basics, a place to share her talent as she participates in worship, and help her find her musical voice. But she will outgrow me at some point and need more than I know if she continues to take lessons. The one thing I can give her that will never leave her is the gift of understanding what she is feeling, understanding that will help her find her joy in the piano and music.
At sixty four, I know a little about life. Some of my life lessons were painful and others were joyful. It is a gift for me to be able to give back, to share with Diamond one of my greatest joys in life, music. For the teacher as well as the student, important lessons are learned in this kind of sharing. I am learning again the lesson of hope, joyful anticipation.
Every Wednesday, Diamond comes to me, her face lit up with the pleasure of learning new songs and playing for me what she has practiced the week before. My soul lights up as I show her how to play the scales a new way, a way that makes her fingers stumble while she learns how to use them on the piano. “I’ll do this right next week, Miss Peggy”, she says, grinning up at me. And, she will. Next week we will begin learning a hymn from the hymn book, music far above her current capabilities. We will work along and by Easter, she will be ready to play that hymn for worship.
I will have paid my debt to Mrs. Drew and Mrs. Davis. But I am also indebted to Diamond for giving me the opportunity to share this gift of mine with her. Like the old priest Eli and the young boy Samuel, we will see what God can make of us, what use we can be to the kingdom of God on earth, and give thanks for the possibilities. In the meantime, Diamond and I will be singing “I’ve Got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy Down in my Heart” as we take lessons together every Wednesday at Calvary Presbyterian. Thanks be to God.