The Sound of Music

I cannot say when music became so important to our family since Bob and I can barely turn on the radio and get the right tones to come out right but we have both loved music since the beginning of our time together. The Psalms have always had special meaning to us especially the one that says, "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord.". I think that is what we have done most of our lives. we have tried to make joyful noises unto the Lord.

Bob grew up with an aunt that was quite musical and could play the piano. I grew up with a dad who could play the guitar and sing - of course in those early years the songs were mostly by Hank Williams, Sr about "Your Cheating Heart" and "Moaning the Blues" but in this little girls heart he was just as good as Hank. Later, he got a guitar and taught himself to play. I was in the hight school band and found that from some secret source I had a natural ear for music and learned to play flute. My parents bought a piano and I could pick out anything with my right hand but my left hand spoke a different language.

Eventually, as God intended, our home was blessed with true joyful sounds when Debbie was four years old. She began playing the piano for real. She took lessons and became the protege' for her teacher and completed her first book in only 6 weeks. At 5 she received her first standing ovation at her first recital and she was playing from the Baptist Hymnal (still her favorite Hymn Book) Saturday nights at our house was filled with such joy because of the sounds of Heaven as she sang with her dad with her perfect soprano voice from the old Blackwood Brothers songbooks. They would sing one song after another and it was Heaven come down and full of glory. It was Saturday night at the Hughes' house and nobody complained.

When Deb was 12, she was the pianist at Friendship Baptist and on a Sunday evening, she was playing from the hymnal when Wendy Mann called out "Victory in Jesus". We all held our breath because we had not heard her play this one before. It wasn't even in the book at that time. Deb told him that it wasn't there and his response was "just fake it" (what faith he had) and fake it she did. She played her heart out as though there wasn't enough keys on the piano to handle it all. God had given her what she needed because he had given her the talent and expected that it be used for Him. She's never looked back or said I can't play something.

Too often we fail to take what God has given to us and use it for His glory. He gives us so much and we think it is all for us to use for ourselves to make us happy but that is a somewhat selfish view of God and His will for our lives. He has a plan and will for our lives. Each of us should think about ourselves and consider where it is that God would have us serve Him and join Him in where ever Her is working using the gifts He has given to us. Your gift may not be the same as mine and I am certain that mine is not the same as yours. If mine were playing the piano, my left hand would speak the left-hand piano language (I took lessons for 6 months just for my left hand).

The one gift that each of us has that is the same for all is

Sharing God's Love,

Peggy