H1 & H2 both take piano lessons from a young lady here in town.  A few times a year they have a recital at a local assisted living center.  H2 just recently started taking piano lessons, so this was his first recital.  He was very excited and a little nervous about playing his favorite piece, Winnie the Pooh, and a duet with his big brother.  They both did great and I was very proud of them.  Seeing them play together at the piano brought tears to my eyes.

Miss H, their piano teacher, prepares her students to sing to the residents as well as play a piano piece and duet.  The songs that she chooses are familiar hymns and patriotic tunes that everyone can sing along with.  This one particular man, who was obviously a stroke victim, sang along with the children with all of his heart.  He used his arms and would point his fingers as he sang along.  When one of the students played a patriotic tune on the piano that was familiar to him, he sang along.  Even though he was hard to understand, the beautiful joy in his eyes brought tears to my eyes.

At the conclusion of the recital, the children are encouraged to go around and talk with the residents and thank them for listening.  My boys are fairly comfortable with the elderly, but the way that they handled themselves this time surprised me.  I did not have to nudge them along and they did it on their own.  My middle son is the most tender hearted of all of the boys and he approached a lady that was sitting off on her own in the dining area.  She was sitting there having a conversation with herself and H2 was patiently waiting for her to finish even though she had no clue he was standing there.  He whispered a thank you to her and looked back at me and told me that he did not think she had heard him.  I told him that it was okay and encouraged him to move on.  The compassion that was on his face as he looked back to her brought tears to my eyes.

One of the hymns that we sang that night was one that I have heard my entire life.  It seems weird to say that it was like hearing it for the first time.  What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!  What a priviledge to carry everything to God in prayer!  Oh, what peace we often forfeit, Oh, what needless pain we bear.  All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.  What an awesome reminder that we do not have to bear these burdens alone and we can lay them at the cross.  It is our priviledge to bring it to God.  Lately, I have been struggling with some issues and singing this hymn was a beautiful reminder of how much our God loves us and brought tears to my eyes.