The Piano

I don’t know if it was me or Him when the impression came to my heart to give away my piano.

I had wanted to play piano since I was little.  The only piano I had access to was at my grandpa’s house.  I saw him once or twice a year.  and when I did, I was at that piano most of the time. 

We could not afford piano lessons, let alone the purcahse of a piano.  I secretly hoped as a little girl that I would wake up on Christmas  morning to a piano with a big red bow on it.  

In highschool I would spend my lunch hours in the band room playing and composing.  I had worked an afterschool job since I was 14.  I decided to begin saving my money to buy a keyboard.  I can remember the day I brought it home.  I couldn’t believe that I actually had something of my very own.  I played it everyday for hours. I was able to plug in my head set so  I could play late into the night.  It was healing balm to me.  I worshipped at it daily.  I asked God to give me the ability to write songs that would encourage people. 

About 2 years later, I saved enough to buy a really old upright.  It was so old, that the piano tuner said it couldn’t be tuned.  That didn’t matter to me.  I wrote more songs on that old piano.   Songs that reached out to those all around me: to my children, while in my womb, to my family while falling asleep, to a friend whose heart was breaking, to the children in Sunday School, to my church body, women’s retreats, bible studies, coffee houses.  He chose to use me with my incredibly limited knowledge of music theory, cadence, rhythm,  songwriting, or vocal performance.  All I knew was to sing from my heart about who He is and what He had done for me.

Sean surprised me one day by suggesting we go to the local college where they were having a sale on show room pianos.  He figured it would be nice for me to have something a bit more portable.  By the end of the afternoon we were setting up a beautiful electric piano in our living room.  The sound quality was amazing.  It was in tune!  wow….how nice that was.

I decided to give my old upright away to a homeschooling family.  They had a daughter that really wanted to take piano lessons.  They had no piano, and income was limited.  I felt  good about my decision to give it to them.

My new piano carried me through some of the hardest times.  The next 5 years would prove to be a real test for me in many ways.  Having battled with severe chronic pain, that was debilitating much of the time, I found myself at the feet of Jesus to survive.  I worshipped at that  piano most nights.  My family was so used to me playing in the night, that it wasn’t uncommon for one of them to request it.  I would get up in the middle of the night and play.  They all slept soundly. 

It was at the end of a particular season where I felt impressed to give my piano away.  I had battled long and hard with trusting God and letting go.  

I thought of Abraham and Isaac.  I wondered if God would provide a ram in the bush.

I talked it over with my family.  They supported my decision.  We all prayed together that wherever the piano went, it would bless those that played it, and those that would hear it’s song.

I can remember the day we gave it away.  I can remember thinking “what is my family going to say?  [extended]  What will friends say?”  This was a  very private decision and I did not feel at liberty to discuss it with anyone. 

I began playing my guitar again, and used it in service to those around me.    My mom and husband got caught secretly trying to buy me another piano.  They wanted to wrap one up with a big red bow.  My heart was so blessed, but I told them both that this was between me and the Lord.  I told them that He would bring me another piano.  I didn’t know how.  I didn’t know when, but I knew he would.

One day, about 6 months after giving my piano away, I walked by the bible book store.  Featured in the window was the most beautiful picture of a grand piano.  It really moved my heart.  The lady from inside the bookstore, whom I knew, came out of the store, put her arm around me and said, “Isn’t that the most beautiful picture?”  I felt so stirred inside, so drawn to it.  So I bought it,  brought it home and hung it up.

I said to the Lord, “This is my piano from you.  and if this is all I have, I will be content.”  Looking at it really gave me comfort.  Inscripted on the very bottom of the picutre was the phrase, “Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound….”

Six months later

One morning, almost one year to the date of giving my piano away, the phone rang.  The woman on the other end proceded to tell me that I don’t know her, but she had heard that I had given my piano away.  She told me a story about a mid size grand  piano that had sitting in her garage that she wanted to find a home for.  Eventually she wanted it to go to her daughter, but told me that that could be 10 years or more from now. 

She paid to have it delivered to my home,for any repairs it needed, as well as a tuning.  As they wheeled the piano into the designated corner, my piano picture hung right above it.  The pianos looked identical, so much that it caught her eye.  I was able to share with her my story.  Tears filled her eyes as she told me that she knew that this piano was right where it was supposed to be.

That was 4 years ago.  That piano has filled the halls and spaces of our home and hearts.

I know that we can’t outgive God.  and His gifts are the best.

In Him,
Storie