Why Your "Lifesong" Pleases God

When I was seven, my parents bought a brand new piano for me, before I ever had a lesson. Buying a new piano rather than a starter seems rashly optimistic, doesn’t it, knowing how fickle kids are. But my parents really wanted a piano player in the family, exhibiting a fervor usually reserved for offspring becoming doctors and lawyers. I can’t explain their unity and intrepidness in this goal, but when I was born, the last child and only girl, the first thing my father said was, “Now we have our piano player.” And there I am with a toy piano at the left, two years old, being prepped for my inevitable destiny. Yes, they were serious about this piano-playing stuff.

After three years of lessons, we all agreed that I was probably done.

Even though I wasn’t very good, you should’ve heard my folks go on about how they loved to hear me play. No matter how many times I bungled notes, they commented about how they enjoyed my music.

I remember thinking, “What is wrong with them? Can’t they hear the mistakes? I’ll never be good at this. I can’t even get through a song without messing up, and yet they act like I’m headed for the Lawrence Welk Show! I wonder if they’re fibbing when they say they like to hear me play. I wonder if they’re just being nice because they think they have to.”

Presently, that piano sits in my living room, where every morning before school, my last child, a 15 year-old girl, plays a repertoire of popular ballads that she has learned from the Internet, which, I might add, is a lot cheaper than the approximately three years of lessons that she received when she was younger.

Here’s the thing. I love to hear her play. She misses notes, plays half-songs, tinkers with chords, uses the pedals wildly—she’s all over the map, so to speak. And yet, her music brings me indescribable joy. I literally get a warm “Christmasy” feeling while she plays, a sense of peace, contentment and pride.

My husband and I were analyzing why we’re so touched by her playing. We decided the joy comes from observing her releasing something which desires to be expressed, that creative spark that we’ve all heard about which reflects our Father’s creativity. I can feel her heart in her music. I’m also proud of her ability to teach herself, to set goals and meet them. I’m proud of her musicality that most certainly did not come from me.

To sum it up, I love her music because I love my child; her songs are part of who she is. Notice that perfection is not even a remote consideration in my appreciation. I’m wild about that girl. Thus, I’m wild about her music.

It’s funny how when I was the young pianist, all I could hear were my mistakes, but my parents heard the music above the flaws. Now I do the same thing with my daughter.

We created beings know our frailties all too well. We regularly bungle the gifts our Father has given us. Sometimes we start and do not finish; sometimes we get a little crazy and miss the mark.

For instance, you may feel that you have not excelled at parenting lately. You may feel that your house is a mess, that you are scattered between home, church and work obligations. You may think the last object lesson you taught was a flop. You may have lost your patience with an extended family member in spite of your sincere desire to love her. You may have put on weight in spite of being a mediocre cook. The list could go on and on.

You only notice your flaws, while your Father, who is wild about you, hears the music of your life--and it brings him indescribable joy.

Missing the mark does not surprise Him. Perfection is not even a remote consideration in his love for you. He is delighting in you even now as you sit soaking up these words.

So how do we respond to this kind of love?

I’m reminded of Casting Crowns’ lyrics:

So may the words I say
And the things I do
Make my lifesong sing
Bring a smile to you

Whatever you do today, “sing” with all your heart for the One who loves your music and delights in you, and don't let inner accusations and missteps drag you down. Your soul longs to express itself to its Creator, and He longs to hear music that is uniquely you!

Scriptures about soul-songs:

Psalm 108: My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing and make music with all my soul.

Luke 1:46: And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord”.

Psalm 42:8: By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life.



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